Researchers have uncovered 10 fossil teeth belonging to a previously unknown species of Australopithecus, an early human ancestor, in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. The teeth date back about 2.65 million years and show traits that distinguish them from other known species.
The discovery provides insight into a poorly understood period in human evolution and suggests that there were four hominins inhabiting East Africa at the time. This challenges the idea that human evolution is a single, linear process, instead revealing a complex pattern of branching and extinction.
The new species coexisted with an early Homo species, which lived around 2.59 million years ago. The researchers are analyzing the teeth to determine if they shared similar diets, which could indicate competition for resources. Crude stone tools dating to the same time were also found nearby, likely made by the Homo species.
The discovery of this new species sheds light on a period in human evolution that has long been shrouded in mystery. With more research and analysis, scientists hope to shed light on the interactions between these early human ancestors and their environments.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/science/ethiopian-fossils-reveal-new-species-human-evolutionary-lineage-2025-08-13