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Ancient Hominins Coexisted: New Insights from Ethiopia

11/27/2025

Summary

Story summary

Paleoanthropologist Yohannes Haile-Selassie notes that Australopithecus deyiremeda and Australopithecus afarensis coexisted in Ethiopia's Afar Rift over 3.3 million years ago, with remains within 5 kilometers of each other.
Australopithecus deyiremeda, identified from foot bones, shows adaptations for both climbing and bipedal walking.
Isotope analysis of their teeth indicates Australopithecus afarensis consumed a diverse diet of C4 plants, while Australopithecus deyiremeda ate mainly C3 plants.
The findings were published in Nature.

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Story summary

Paleoanthropologist Yohannes Haile-Selassie notes that Australopithecus deyiremeda and Australopithecus afarensis coexisted in Ethiopia's Afar Rift over 3.3 million years ago, with remains within 5 kilometers of each other.
Australopithecus deyiremeda, identified from foot bones, shows adaptations for both climbing and bipedal walking.
Isotope analysis of their teeth indicates Australopithecus afarensis consumed a diverse diet of C4 plants, while Australopithecus deyiremeda ate mainly C3 plants.
The findings were published in Nature.