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Sahelanthropus or 'Sahelpithecus'?

2002; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 419; Issue: 6907 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/419582a

1476-4687

Michel Brunet,

Evolution and Paleontology Studies

In 1925, when Dart described Australopithecus africanus1 as a hominid, critics interpreted it as a juvenile gorilla2,3,4. Last year, Wolpoff's colleagues (B.S. and M.P.) claimed that their Kenyan fossil Orrorin was a direct ancestor of Homo5, and now Wolpoff et al. conclude that Sahelanthropus was an ape (specifically, a female gorilla ancestor6) — a belief that, to our knowledge, is not supported by published or unpublished data.