Earliest Known Bipedal Human Relative Discovered to Be a Knuckle-Walker
Today, scientists have uncovered the earliest known evidence of knuckle-walking, a type of bipedal movement used by great apes such as chimpanzees and gorillas. The fossilized remains of Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a species that lived 6-7 million years ago, were analyzed and revealed a previously unknown adaptation.
We’ve found that the earliest known hominid species, Sahelanthropus tchadensis, was capable of knuckle-walking. This adaptation is thought to have been used by the species to traverse more difficult terrain, as well as to carry things. This discovery is a reminder of how much we still have left to learn about our evolutionary history.
source: Phys.org