Little Foot hominin fossil may be new species of human ancestor

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Donna LuDecember 14, 2025 at 03:00 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A new study suggests that the "Little Foot" fossil, a remarkably complete Australopithecus skeleton discovered in South Africa's Sterkfontein cave system, may represent a previously unknown species of human ancestor. Discovered in 1994 and publicly unveiled in 2017, the fossil has been attributed by some to Australopithecus prometheus and by others to Australopithecus africanus. However, research published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology identifies key differences between Little Foot and both species, particularly in the structure of the skull. Researchers believe that Little Foot could represent a new branch on the human family tree, distinct from previously identified hominin species. The findings challenge existing understandings of hominin evolution in Africa.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

University of Cambridge 40% University of the Witwatersrand 50% La Trobe University ×250% Sterkfontein ×360% Australopithecus prometheus ×270% Little Foot ×480%

Keywords

little foot 100% hominin fossil 90% human ancestor 80% australopithecus 70% new species 70% evolutionary past 60% paleoanthropology 50% sterkfontein cave 50% skull 40%