Homo naledi

Homo naledi is a species of archaic human found in the Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. The species possibly lived in the Middle Pleistocene 335,000–236,000 years ago.^[1] The initial discovery comprises 1,569 specimens, representing 737 different elements, and at least 69 different people.^[2] Despite this exceptionally high number of specimens, their ranking with the Homo genus remains unclear.

Homo naledi Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene 0.335–0.236 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
The 737 known elements of H. naledi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Family:	Hominidae
Subfamily:	Homininae
Tribe:	Hominini
Genus:	Homo
Species:	†H. naledi
Binomial name
Homo naledi Berger et al., 2015
Location of Rising Star Cave in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa

Even though it is in the Homo genus, they have some similarities with the Australopithecus genus and the first human species. For example, they have a small brain compared to modern humans.^[3] They were more adapted to climbing and tree-dwelling (aboreal) than running through long distances.^[4]

Comparison of the skull of H. naledi with other small-brained humans (H. habilis, H. erectus, and H. floresiensis)

Gallery

Skeletal elements

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  Top skull digital reconstruction
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  Jaws of LES1 (left) and DH1 (right)
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  Upper jawbone of LES1 (left) and DH1 (right)
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  A lower jawbone
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  A clavicle
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  A humerus
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  An ulna
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  Metacarpals from different specimens
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  10th thoracic vertebra
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  11th thoracic vertebra
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  A and B) ilium, C and D) adolescent sacrum, E and F) ischium
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  A femur
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  A tibia
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  Ankle bones from different specimens
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  1) adult right foot, 2) juvenile left, 3 and 4) adult left, 5) juvenile right