Overview
Described in 2019 from teeth, hand and foot bones from Callao Cave on the island of Luzon. Displays a mosaic of features: small teeth similar to H. sapiens, curved finger and toe bones suggesting significant climbing ability, and ancestral features in the foot reminiscent of Australopithecus. Its evolutionary origins are unclear — it may derive from H. erectus (like H. floresiensis) or from an earlier, unknown Homo dispersal to Southeast Asia.
Key Fossils
CCH6 (metatarsal), CCH2 (premolars), hand and foot bones
Brain Anatomy
No Cranial Data Available
No cranial remains or endocasts have been recovered for this species, so brain morphology cannot be directly assessed.
Tools & Technology
No Tool Associations
No stone tools have been directly associated with this species in the archaeological record.
Diet
Unknown
Genetics & Ancient DNA
| Genome Coverage | % |
|---|---|
| DNA Source | |
| Sequencing Year | |
| mtDNA Available | No |
| Nuclear DNA | No |
| Divergence Date (fossil calibrated) | 67 KYA |
H. luzonensis: no DNA.
Molecular clock data from TimeTree 5 (Kumar et al. 2022).
Key Specimens
| Specimen | Name | Site | Year | Age (MYA) | Completeness | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCH6a | Callao metatarsal | Callao Cave | 2007 | 0.07 | 15.00% | Earliest hominin from Philippines |
Dating Evidence
| Method | Date (MYA) | Uncertainty | Material | Site / Specimen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ar Ar | 1.6600 | ± 0.0300 | Sangiran tuffs | Callao Cave |
Scientific References
- (2019). "A new species of Homo from the Late Pleistocene of the Philippines". Nature 568:181-186. DOI:10.1038/s41586-019-1067-9 (198 citations)