Final answer:
The fossils of Homo floresiensis have been nicknamed 'The Hobbit' due to their small size, reminiscent of the characters in Tolkien's novels. They lived on Flores Island in Indonesia and displayed characteristics of island dwarfism, such as small stature and brain size, but still made tools and used fire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fossils of Homo floresiensis have been given the nickname "The Hobbit". This nickname is derived from their diminutive stature as an adult Homo floresiensis stood about 3 feet 7 inches tall, reminiscent of the fictional Hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. Discovered in Liang Bua Cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia in 2003, these diminutive humans lived from about 100,000 to 60,000 years ago. Their small brain size (380 cc) did not prevent them from making tools, using fire, or hunting. Homo floresiensis exhibits traits of island dwarfism, an evolutionary adaptation to limited resources on an island environment.
Several theories have been proposed to explain the origins of H. floresiensis, including the idea that they were either a sister species of Homo habilis or descendants of H. erectus. The island dwarfism theory suggests that after H. erectus reached Flores, they grew smaller over generations due to limited resources.
The small stature and brain size, alongside unique religious habits and the use of tools, distinguish Homo floresiensis from other hominins. They walked with a high stepping gait and had thick leg bones. Interestingly, the brain of Homo floresiensis maintained cognitive abilities in a small space as indicated by sizes of specific brain regions like the Brodmann area.