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New Fossil Sheds Light On Lucy's Family Tree
I_am_sci_guy writes "A new fossil of an older, and presumably male, specimen of the same species as the famed Lucy indicates that A. afarensis may have walked and moved more like humans than was currently believed. The features of the unusually complete skeleton 'denote a nearly humanlike gait and ground-based lifestyle,' according to anthropologist Yohannes Haile-Selassie and his team, who found the specimen they call 'Big Man' and published preliminary results online today at PNAS (abstract; full text requires subscription). The article includes plenty of viewpoints dissenting from the conclusion that A. afarensis walked, and possibly ran, like modern humans do."
Here's the thing, many eons ago the earth's sea level was way way higher than what it is now. So as it recedes we are finding fossils of 'people' that lived in the high country - the equivalent of modern day hillbillies. This is not a fair slice of everday life for that day and should not be taken as a typical 'man in the street'. We need fossils from downtown central to really get a flavour of life from way back then.
In a stunning announcement The Creation Institute of America has moved that these two have actually been misnamed and are in fact Adam and Eve or bitch as head creationist Mike Comburg said in their press release earlier today. They are now demanding that school districts teach both sides of the name argument.
They find the male counterpart of Lucy, and nickname him "Big Man"? It would have been much more fun to name him "Ricky."
Q: What does the "B." in Benoit B. Mandelbrot stand for? A: Benoit B. Mandelbrot
From the nature write up it appears that this, along with older fossils, seems to push back bipedal Hominini to about 3.5 millions year. Almost 2 meters tall, a pelvis that seems modern, and a long tibia. I am not so sure why the scientists are arguing about how these creatures walked, the agreement on a bipedal Lucy and relatives seems pretty impressive, and meant that our ancestors could run when they hunt the might dinosaur.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
So I am supposed to read the results of "Big Man" over at PNAS? Why does this summary look like the contents of my spam folder?
They find the male counterpart of Lucy
Even better, call him Linus :)
What does Mr. Torvalds have to do with Lucille Ball? Or maybe I just have peanuts for brains...
The article includes plenty of viewpoints dissenting from the conclusion that A. afarensis walked, and possibly ran, like modern humans do.
Is anyone else as deeply offended by this as me? I, as a modern human, haven never, ever, in my life run, and am offended that I am associated with these prehistoric brutes.
Oh the humanity!