Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Laura M. MacLatchy, Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan

Wooded grasslands flourished in Africa 21 million years ago – new research forces a rethink of ape evolution

An ape that lived 21 million years ago was used to a habitat that was both grassy and wooded. Corbin Rainbolt

Human evolution is tightly connected to the environment and landscape of Africa, where our ancestors first emerged.

According to the traditional scientific narrative, Africa was once a verdant idyll of vast forests stretching from coast to coast. In these lush habitats, around 21 million years ago, the earliest ancestors of apes and humans first evolved traits – including upright posture – that distinguished them from their monkey cousins.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.