Provisional
species of
fossil hominid dating from 4.4
mya. Over 40
specimens representing at least 17 individuals were recovered from
Aramis, Ethiopia, in 1992-3; an undescribed
specimen is said to be 40% complete. More
specimens continue to be found. A. ramidus is very
primitive, with large
canines,
sectorial premolars, and thinly enameled
molars.
Cranial capacity is presumed to be very small. Nevertheless, A. ramidus has a number of anatomical
features (including pelvic morphology) that indicate
bipedalism. Some researchers think that Ardipithecus may be the stem
species for all later
hominids. The validity of the nomen Ardipithecus is currently under review and some workers place these
specimens in the
taxon Australopithecus ramidus. Since the 2001 finds at
Alaya, however, these younger
specimens are viewed by some as subspecific material (Ardipithecus ramidus ramidus), and congeners to the older Ardipithecus ramidus kadabba.