Scientists have identified a new ancient relative of humans, the Australopithecus deyiremeda, from a 3.4-million-year-old foot found in Ethiopia, distinct from Lucy. The Burtele foot features an opposable big toe, indicating its owner was a skilled climber, likely spending more time in trees than Lucy, who roamed the ground. This discovery suggests multiple hominid species coexisted, each adapting to different ecological niches and diets, challenging the linear view of human evolution.
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