Fossil:

TM266-01-060-1

Source: Nature magazine and Michel Brunet

Site:

Anthrocotheriid Unit
Toros-Menalla, Chad (39)

Discovered By:

Djimdoumalbaye Ahounta
July 19, 2001 (39)

Estimated Age of Fossil:

6 mya - 7 mya
* determined by Based on stratigraphic & faunal data (biostratigraphy) (40)

Species Name:

Sahelanthropus Tchadensis (39)

Gender:

probably male (based on large muscle attachments on skull) (39)

Cranial Capacity:

320-380 cc cc (39)

Information:

Relatively flat face, small canines, thick enamel (all derived hominid traits) (39)
Earliest known hominid as of 7/02 (39)

Interpretation:

Adult cranium with novel combination of primitive and derived traits (39)
Suggested to be bipedal (based on position of foramen magnum) (39)
Perhaps not a direct human ancestor; Chimp ancestor? Gorilla ancestor? (45)