Penghu 1

Penghu 1
Temporal range: Pleistocene, 0.25–0.2Ma
↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Tribe: Hominini
Genus: Homo
Species: H. tsaichangensis
Binomial name
†Homo tsaichangensis
McMenamin, 2015

Penghu 1 is a fossil jaw belonging to an extinct hominin species of the genus Homo from Taiwan that is Pleistocene in age.

The fossil was recovered sometime before 2008 by fishermen working in the Penghu Channel – between the Penghu Islands and mainland Taiwan – and described in 2015 by an international team of Japanese, Taiwanese, and Australian scientists.[1]

The fossil consists of a nearly complete right lower jaw and four teeth, including molars and premolars. The specimen was assigned to the genus Homo based on jaw and tooth proportions, described as most similar to Hexian fossils of Homo erectus, but the species identity or taxonomic relationships lack consensus due to limited material.[1] Co-author Yousuke Kaifu cautioned that additional skeletal parts are needed before species evaluation,[2] but paleontologist Mark McMenamin argued that unique dental characteristics of the jaw were sufficient to establish the new species Homo tsaichangensis.[3] Scientists including Greg Laden noted that Penghu 1 "is probably a new species." [4]

Penghu 1 is housed at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Taichung, Taiwan.[1][5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chang, C.-H.; Kaifu, M.; Kona, R. T.; Grün, R.; Matsu'ura, S.; Kinsley, L.; Lin, L.-K. (2015). "First archaic Homo from Taiwan". Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms7037.
  2. ↑ Choi, Charles Q. (January 27, 2015). "Ancient Human Fossil Could Be New Primitive Species". Live Science.
  3. ↑ McMenamin, M. A. S. (2015). Homo tsaichangensis and Gigantopithecus. South Hadley, Massachusetts: Meanma. doi:10.13140/2.1.3463.7121. ISBN 1-893882-19-5.
  4. ↑ Laden, Greg (January 27, 2015). "The significance of the new East Asian fossil human Penghu 1". Greg Laden's Blog.
  5. ↑ Viegas, Jennifer (January 27, 2015). "Big-Toothed Fossil May Be Primitive New Human". Discovery News.