2011 Human Evolution Lecture 4




HHMI's Holiday Lectures on Science show

Summary: In 1994, scientists discovered the remarkably well-preserved fossil of "Ardi," a member of the 4.4-million-year-old species Ardipithecus ramidus. Fossils found with Ardi indicate that she lived in a woodland rather than savanna habitat. Even more surprising than her ecology is the unique combination of humanlike and chimplike anatomical features. Ardi’s remains illuminate the divergent evolutionary histories of living chimpanzees and humans.