Overview

Known from fragmentary remains including femur pieces, teeth, and finger bones from the Lukeino Formation in Kenya. The femoral morphology, particularly the distribution of cortical bone, suggests early bipedalism, making it one of the earliest potential hominins. However, its exact phylogenetic position remains debated.

Key Fossils

BAR 1002'00 (femur fragments), teeth, finger 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

Mixed diet based on thick enamel; possibly omnivorous

Genetics & Ancient DNA

Genome Coverage%
DNA Source
Sequencing Year
mtDNA AvailableNo
Nuclear DNANo
Divergence Date (fossil calibrated)5.9 MYA

Orrorin: no genome; hominin total-group context only.

Molecular clock data from TimeTree 5 (Kumar et al. 2022).

Scientific References

  1. Senut B, Pickford M, Gommery D, et al. (2001). "First hominid from the Miocene (Lukeino Formation, Kenya)". Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences 332:137-144