What is Ardipithecus?
Q: What is Ardipithecus?
A: Ardipithecus is a very early hominid genus.
Q: When did A. kadabba live?
A: A. kadabba lived about 5.6 million years ago (late Miocene).
Q: When did A. ramidus live?
A: A. ramidus lived about 4.4 million years ago during the early Pliocene.
Q: Does Ardipithecus share any traits with African great ape genera?
A: Yes, Ardipithecus shares several traits with African great ape genera (Pan and Gorilla).
Q: How do some scientists classify Ardipithecus?
A: Some scientists place Ardipithecus on the branch of African great ape genera rather than the human branch.
Q: Why do most scientists consider Ardipithecus a proto-human?
A: Most scientists consider Ardipithecus a proto-human because of a likeness in teeth with Australopithecus.
Q: What are some characteristics of Ardipithecus?
A: Ardipithecus had bipedalism and reduced canines, similar to the Australopithecines.
