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Homo bodoensis is the name for an extinct species of the genus Homo . The species was first scientifically described and introduced into the literature in October 2021. It was not based on newly discovered fossils; the aim of the authors of this first description was rather to rearrange known finds. With the help of this reorganization and renaming, according to the authors, all hominine fossils that are interpreted as the early, immediate ancestors of anatomically modern humans ( Homo sapiens ) are to be grouped under the name Homo bodoensis.

Naming

The name of the genus Homo is derived from Latin: homo [   ], German ,Person'. The epithet bodoensis refers to the type specimen of the species, the so-called Bodo skull from the site of Bodo D'Ar in the Afar Depression ( Ethiopia ), which in turn was named after the nearby dry river Bodo. Homo bodoensis therefore means "human from Bodo".

Initial description

Side view of Kabwe 1, the type specimen of Homo rhodesiensis (original, approx. 300,000 years old)

A research group led by Jon Kalb the Bodo skull, was recovered in 1976 and first scientifically described the type specimen of the species Homo bodoensis in 1978. Even then it was recognized that the skull had features of both Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. In 1996, Philip Rightmire confirmed in a comprehensive description of the skull its phylogenetic intermediate position and suggested that it be assigned to the species Homo heidelbergensis together with more recent finds from Europe. Its delimitation from other chronospecies has long been controversial; According to the first description of Homo bodoensis, for example, the last time there was a meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists in 2019 were very different views on the definition of characteristics of this species.

The authors of the first description of Homo bodoensis therefore suggested in October 2021 that the name Homo heidelbergensis should be completely dispensed with and all fossils previously identified as Homo heidelbergensis that already have Neanderthal features - including the lower jaw of Mauer, the type specimen of Homo heidelbergensis and of the French Arago finds - to Homo neanderthalensis. Alternatively, all African and Southeast European fossils from the Middle Pleistocene epoch (around 750,000 to 130,000 years ago) with features of the archaic <i id="mwSA">Homo sapiens could be combined</i> under the species name Homo bodoensis. At the same time, it was refused to use the intermediate taxon Homo rhodesiensis, which had already been introduced into the specialist literature in 1921, for this association. The term Homo rhodesiensis is unacceptable today because it refers to Cecil Rhodes and the antipathy towards with European colonialism.

In addition to the Bodo skull, the following fossil skulls of Homo bodoensis were placed in the first description: Kabwe 1 (the type specimen of Homo rhodesiensis), Ndutu 1, Saldanha 1, LH 18 (Ngaloba) from Tanzania Salé 1 from Morocco, and Ceprano 1. If the authors' point of view is to endure in future specialist literature, the lineage of anatomically modern humans in Africa - as graphically illustrated in the first description - would lead from Homo erectus via Homo bodoensis to Homo sapiens.

Immediately after the publication of the species name, the British paleoanthropologist Chris Stringer - a specialist in the relationships between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens - criticized the proposed departure from Homo heidelbergensis and the introduction of a new species name in New Scientist. He does agree with the objection that too many and too different fossils of Homo heidelbergensis have been made; it is appropriate to assign only those European finds to Homo heidelbergensis that have a clear similarity to the lower jaw of Mauer, for example the lower jaw of Mala Balanica, but not fossils from Africa. According to the requirements of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, a species name that has already been introduced always has priority over a later one. Therefore, the designation Homo rhodesiensis takes precedence over Homo bodoensis . In this context, Stringer rejected the claim that the species name rhodesiensis honored Cecil Rhodes. In fact, it is a reference to the site in what was then Northern Rhodesia . But even if one wanted to avoid the reference to Rhodesia, the name Homo saldanensis chosen for the skull roof Saldanha 1 in 1955 would have priority over Homo bodoensis. Finally, Stringer also pointed out that the face of the Bodo skull had features that speak for its own evolutionary path and make it appear doubtful that it was a direct ancestor of Homo sapiens.

See also

• Out of Africa theory
• Tribal history of man

External links

• Experts name new species of human ancestor. On: eurekalert.org from 28. October 2021.

References

[[Category:Humans]]