Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa

Scientists have discovered Homo naledi, a new species of extinct hominin within the Dinaledi Chamber of South Africa's Rising Star cave system. This species exhibits a unique combination of traits: a small body similar to modern humans but a brain size akin to earlier australopiths. Its cranial morphology resembles early Homo species like Homo erectus or Homo habilis, while its dentition is small and simple. Remarkably, H. naledi displays humanlike hand, wrist, foot, and lower limb adaptations, contrasting with a more primitive trunk, shoulder, pelvis, and proximal femur. The discovery represents the largest assemblage of a single hominin species in Africa, comprising at least 15 individuals with repeated skeletal elements.

Berger, L. R., Hawks, J., de Ruiter, D. J., Churchill, S. E., Schmid, P., Delezene, L. K., Kivell, T. L., Garvin, H. M., Williams, S. A., DeSilva, J. M., Skinner, M. M., Musiba, C. M., Cameron, N., Holliday, T. W., Harcourt-Smith, W., Ackermann, R. R., Bastir, M., Bogin, B., Bolter, D., et al. (2015). Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife, 4. CLOCKSS. https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.09560