KongoLisolo KL’s Post

Ancient genomes reveal the common history of human and dog https://lnkd.in/gXSsHjXW Dogs likely evolved from a wolf population that self-domesticated, scavenging for leftovers from Paleolithic hunter-gatherers in Eurasia (2, 3). However, the exact timing and geographic location where the dog lineage started remain unknown, owing to the scarcity of Paleolithic dogs in the archaeological record. Analyses of genetic data suggest that dog-wolf divergence took place ∼25,000 to 40,000 years ago (4, 5), providing an earliest possible date for dog domestication.

How many early human species existed on Earth? The answer to this question depends on the definition of a human, the definition of a species and the degree to which you accept variation within a species. Most experts agree that our species, Homo sapiens (Latin for “wise men”), may be the ninth and youngest human species. H. habilis: the handyman (2.4 million – 1.4 million years ago) H. erectus: the enduring hiker (1.89 million to 110.000 years ago) H. rudolfensis: the stranger (1.9 million to 1.8 million years ago) H. heidelbergensis: the hunter (700,000 to 200,000 years ago) H. floresiensis: the Hobbit (100,000 to 50,000 years ago) H. neanderthalensis: The Neanderthal (400,000 – 40,000 years ago) H. naledi (335,000 to 236,000 years ago) H. luzonensis (at least 67,000 years ago) Some scientists say that there were up to twenty early human species. There is also a growing debate about whether H. sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans are in fact all one species. #knowledge #gk #human

Fifty years on, how Lucy, the mother of humanity, changed our understanding of evolution. (By Robin McKie) #FossilFriday #Lucy #ScientificDiscovery #Scientificresearch #EthopianHominin #AustralopithecusAfarensis #SouthernApe #HomoSapiens #AustralopithecusAnamensis #ArdipithecusRamidus #FossilisedHominins Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dsEgYuv4

Can you image that there was once an elephant the size of a Shetland pony? These miniature elephants lived on the island of Sicily during the Pleistocene epoch, approximately 200,000 years ago. Like today’s living elephants, these ancient elephants evolved from a common elephant ancestor, the straight-tusked elephant, which was even bigger than modern elephants. Weighing in at about 10 tons and standing over 12 feet tall the straight-tusked elephants roamed all over Europe, including Sicily. Due to limited resources on Sicily and the isolation of the island, the elephants underwent a process of insular dwarfism, a phenomenon where large animals evolve smaller body sizes over generations in response to the constraints of a confined environment. You can learn more about this fascinating little creature in the attached link. #elephantvoices #elephants #history #conservation #conservationscience

1st Humans @ HIistory Facts - Science & Industry Each one of the billions of people living on Earth today belongs to the same species: Homo sapiens. But we weren't always the only humans. The Smithsonian Institute estimates that some 21 different human species have roamed the Earth (though the number varies due to conflicting definitions of what is “human”). Many of those species are in the genus Homo, which has only one surviving species today (that’s us). The list of hominids also includes other species considered by most scientists to be early humans, such as the Australopithecus afarensis, a member of the genus Australopithecus. The first humans in the same genus as Homo sapiens were Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and Homo erectus, and evidence suggests they coexisted in East Africa some 1.9 million years ago.

Did you know that the leggy birdlike dino (Fujianvenator prodigiosus) lived about 150 million years ago during the Jurassic Period? That’s around the same time as its distant cousin (Archaeopteryx), one of the earliest known birds. Learn more in this #ScienceNews article: https://bit.ly/3P5T7vC #PacificScienceCenter #Dinosaurs #Birds #ScientificResearch #JurassicPeriod #Archaeology #ScienceRocks

📢 History Unearthed: The story of human migration takes a captivating twist! Recent research has unveiled an astonishing revelation - the first humans arrived in North America between 21,000 to 23,000 years ago, rewriting the chronicles of our past. 🌄 In a groundbreaking discovery, ancient human footprints, found in White Sands National Park, New Mexico, have pushed back the timeline of human presence on this continent by thousands of years. This remarkable revelation contradicts previous beliefs and highlights the resilience and adaptability of our early ancestors. During the Last Glacial Maximum, approximately 20,000 years ago, at the peak of the Pleistocene epoch, humans ventured into North America, coexisting with megafauna for millennia before the terminal Pleistocene extinction event. This event led to the extinction of numerous large mammal species, including mammoths, ground sloths, and beavers, leaving a profound impact on the continent's ecosystem. This remarkable discovery is a testament to the relentless pursuit of knowledge by scientists and researchers. It reshapes our understanding of early human history and the challenges our ancestors overcame. 🧐🌿 #HindustanHerald #AncientFootprints #HumanMigration #RewritingHistory #Discoveries #JoinTheDiscussion #FollowUs #heraldnews #hindustan #herald #heraldbreakingnews #heraldlatestnews #JoinTheDiscussion

Did you know that male mosquitoes might have been bloodsuckers too? 🦟 Recent amber fossils found in Lebanon suggest something fascinating about ancient mosquito behaviors. These male mosquitoes, dating back 125 million years, possess mouthparts similar to those found in modern female mosquitoes. This discovery - published in the journal Current Biology - challenges what we've long believed about mosquito evolution and behavior. What other secrets might ancient fossils reveal? #FossilFriday #KeepLearning

Facts about Ants. Ants lack lungs for respiration. Absence of ears characterizes ants. Ants engage in farming activities. Dual stomachs distinguish ants. Ants possess the ability to swim. Ants exhibit behavior akin to slave ownership. Ants boast a lineage as ancient as dinosaurs. Globally, there exist over 12,000 ant species. Remarkably, an ant can hoist 20 times its body weight. Certain queen ants enjoy extended lifespans and produce millions of offspring. Ant conflicts typically culminate in a fight to the death. The demise of a colony's queen spells survival uncertainty, lasting only a few months. Ants showcase resilience, enduring two hours without oxygen. Ants defy biological norms as they lack blood.

Summary: Scientists have discovered the fossil of a tiny ancient elephant that roamed Sicily 200,000 years ago. The adult Sicilian dwarf elephant was about the size of a Shetland pony, while its baby was more akin to a dog. The elephant shrunk rapidly over a million years due to the constraints of the island. This discovery provides insight into extreme evolution and how species adapt to different environments. Takeaway: The fossil of a tiny ancient elephant found in Sicily reveals how the species rapidly shrank in size over a million years due to the constraints of the island. This provides a fascinating example of extreme evolution and adaptation to different environments. #Evolution #Adaptation #AncientElephant Note: Please feel free to modify the summary and takeaway as per your requirements.