Ardipithecus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids ArdipithecusTemporal range: Pliocene
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ardipithecus ramidus skull | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: |
Ardipithecus
White et al., 1995
|
| Species | |
|
†Ardipithecus kadabba |
|
Ardipithecus is a very old group of early human relatives, or hominids. They lived a long, long time ago, during a period called the late Neogene.
Scientists know about two main types, or species, of Ardipithecus. One is A. kadabba, which lived about 5.6 million years ago. The other is A. ramidus, which lived around 4.4 million years ago. These ancient beings give us important clues about how humans evolved.
Contents
What Made Ardipithecus Special?
Ardipithecus is important because it shows some features that are like modern humans and some that are like great apes.
Walking Upright
One of the most exciting things about Ardipithecus is that it could walk on two legs. This is called bipedalism. This ability is a key feature that separates humans from other apes. Finding evidence of bipedalism in such an old creature helps us understand when our ancestors started walking upright.
Unique Teeth
Ardipithecus also had teeth that were a bit different from apes. Their canine teeth (the pointy ones) were smaller, more like human canines. This is another clue that links Ardipithecus to the human family tree.
How Does Ardipithecus Fit In?
Scientists are still studying Ardipithecus to understand its exact place in our family tree.
Some scientists think Ardipithecus is very closely related to the ancestors of chimpanzees and gorillas. This is because it shares some traits with these African great apes.
However, many others believe it is an early human ancestor. They see the similarities in its teeth and its ability to walk on two legs as strong evidence. These features are also seen in later early human relatives like Australopithecus.
Studying Ardipithecus helps us learn more about the very first steps in human evolution. It shows us what our earliest ancestors might have looked like and how they lived millions of years ago.
Images for kids
-
Ardipithecus kadabba fossils
-
Casts of Ardi's finger bones.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Ardipiteco para niños
