Pre-australopithecines
Orrorin tugenensis
"Millennium Man"
6.1–5.8 Ma·300 ka·Discovered 2000
Description
Known from 13 fragmentary fossils. The femora show clear adaptations to bipedalism.
Notable facts
- "Orrorin" means "original man" in Tugen
- Its teeth are surprisingly similar to modern humans
- Probably still climbed trees as well
- Announces the dawn of bipedalism
Key specimens
BAR 1000'00
Right femur
Proximal femur showing clear bipedal adaptations.
Anatomy
Femur with bipedal load pattern, small thick-enameled molars, ape-like arms.
Locomotion
Bipedal walker and adept tree-climber.
Diet
Fruits, leaves, possibly hard objects.
Where to see it
Kenya National Museums, Nairobi.
Media & references
Image ·
Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia article
Senut, Pickford, Gommery, Mein, Cheboi & Coppens (2001). First hominid from the Miocene (Lukeino Formation, Kenya). Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences.
doi: 10.1016/S1251-8050(01)01529-4 ↗