A team of researchers has identified a new human species that vanished approximately 200,000 years ago in China. Named Homo juluensis, the species is shedding new light on the complexity of human evolution.
The discovery, made at the Xujiayao site, includes fossilized remains of 16 individuals. The species stood out due to its large skulls, wide craniums, and oversized teeth, features that distinguish it from Neanderthals and modern humans.
Measurements of their skulls ranged between 103 and 109 cubic inches, significantly larger than Neanderthals’ 88 cubic inches and modern humans’ 82 cubic inches.
Adapting to a harsh environment
Stone tools, artifacts, and animal bones were found alongside the remains, suggesting a highly adaptive lifestyle. Researchers believe Homo juluensis were skilled hunters who relied on wild horses for sustenance. They consumed every part of the animal, including meat, marrow, and cartilage, and crafted clothing from hides to endure harsh winters.
Christopher Bae, a study co-author, emphasized the importance of these findings. “Recent research initiatives in China, and broader eastern Asia, are showing clearly that multiple hominin lineages were present during the Late Quaternary,” he said in the study.
This period, beginning 300,000 years ago, was marked by dramatic climate changes, including glacial periods that drove the extinction of many ancient species.
Small groups but bigger challenges
Researchers believe Homo juluensis lived in small, isolated groups, a factor that may have contributed to their vulnerability. As modern humans began migrating out of Africa roughly 120,000 years ago, they likely interbred with and outcompeted native populations like Neanderthals and Homo juluensis.
Comparisons between Homo juluensis and other hominin species further illustrate their unique traits. While unrelated to Neanderthals, they shared dental similarities with Denisovans, an ancient human population identified from remains in Siberia.
The molars of Homo juluensis and Denisovans were unusually large, with nearly identical biting surfaces. This led researchers to suggest that Denisovans may not represent a separate species but rather a population within the Homo juluensis lineage.
Emergence of the new species
The study, published in Nature, proposes that Homo juluensis likely emerged through genetic mixing with early humans and adapted to environmental changes during the Late Quaternary. The species’ extinction is attributed to a combination of environmental challenges and competition with modern humans.
The findings challenge long-standing models of human evolution, showing greater diversity among ancient populations in eastern Asia than previously understood. The study authors said that the variety of fossils from this region exceeds expectations and deepens their understanding of the complexities of human evolution.
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