Ancestors of modern humans who lived 4.4 million years ago were well-suited to swinging in trees and a life in the branches. Hand bones of Ardi, a member of the ancient human relative species Ardipithecus ramidus, were compared to modern primates and other extinct human ancestors. It reveals they are ape-like in structure and more suited to … Read more
A new report challenges the theory that Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a hominid that lived more than 6 million years ago, was our earliest known human ancestor. French paleontologists uncovered a Sahelanthropus in Chad almost two decades ago. Nicknaming it ‘Toumai,’ they heralded the creature as an early biped — with a skull indicating it had an erect spine. … Read more
Wild chimpanzees have been found to be infected with leprosy for the first time, in two locations in West Africa that are separated by hundreds of miles. Experts discovered two wild chimp populations, in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park and Taï National Park in Ivory Coast, that are infected with the disease, as confirmed by faecal samples. Leprosy – which … Read more
Humans are able to determine whether a chimpanzee is happy, sad or angry and why they might be feeling that way just by listening to their calls, a new study shows. Researchers from the University of Amsterdam played different chimp calls to more than 3,400 volunteers and asked them to determine the mood and situation. … Read more
Chimps smack their lips together to talk to each other at almost the same speed as humans – providing evidence for early language Primatologists found Chimpanzees move their lips two to five times a second This is similar to humans, which can move their lips two to seven times a second Research provides additional clues … Read more