GM>Besides, while I really would prefer not to include the
>Australopithecines in the human family, it is quite interesting that
>the oldest Australopithecine fossil IS from 5.5 million years ago.
>See Bernard Campbell, Human Evolution, 1974, p. 95
>> Jim Foley's Hominid FAQ says of Australopithecus ramidus: "This
>> species is a recent discovery, announced in September 1994 (White et
>> al.1994; Wood, 1994). It is the oldest known hominid, dated at 4.4
>> million years."
Maybe I should have said "oldest known hominid species" here.
>> The next oldest proven fossil hominid is, according to the FAQ:
>> "Australopithecus africanus" which "existed between 3 and 2 million
>> years ago."
The 5.5 million year old fossil is probably the Lothagam mandible, ER
300 and something. The FAQ doesn't list every fossil. This one is left
out because it is of very poor quality. It may not even be able to be
firmly identified as a hominid, rather than a hominoid (ape). It's
certainly not identifiable on a species basis.
-- Jim Foley Symbios Logic, Fort CollinsJim.Foley@symbios.com (303) 223-5100 x9765* 1st 1.11 #4955 * "I am Homer of Borg! Prepare to be...OOooooo! Donuts!!!"