Synonyms
Definition
Homo rudolfensis is a species of early Homo that is known from ~1.8 million years ago in East Africa. Despite more than 40 years of research and analyses, it is still unclear where this hominin sits on the human evolutionary tree.
Introduction
Fossil hominin bones found in Kenya in 1973 remain enigmatic despite 43 years of discussion and analysis. The bones comprise a partial cranium and face and leg bones. The cranium and face have the Kenya National Museum name KNM-ER 1470. Just where they fit on the human evolutionary tree has long occupied researchers, but a resolution has not been forthcoming, and it is unclear as to what other fossils might belong in the same species as KNM-ER 1470.
History of Discovery and Taxonomic Challenges
In 1973 Mr. Bernard Ngeneo discovered a relatively intact cranium in the East Rudolf area of Kenya during fieldwork led by Mr. Richard Leakey. The cranium is known by its museum reference KNM-ER 1470 (Kenya...
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References
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Argue, D. (2016). Homo rudolfensis . In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3434-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3434-1
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Homo rudolfensis- Published:
- 31 May 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3434-2
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- 27 December 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3434-1