Final answer:
Orrorin tugenensis was discovered in Kenya in 2000 by Martin Pickford and Brigitte Senut. Orrorin dates to approximately 6 MYA and exhibits anatomical features that suggest bipedalism and parallel traits to modern humans, playing a significant role in our understanding of human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Discovery of Orrorin tugenensis:
Orrorin tugenensis was discovered in Kenya in the year 2000. This significant finding was made by the geologist Martin Pickford and the paleontologist Brigitte Senut from France. The discovery was momentous because Orrorin is dated to be approximately 6 million years old (MYA), which suggests its place in the hominin lineage due to features such as the large femoral head and thick dental enamel, indicating adaptations for bipedalism and similarities with modern human dentition. The insights from Orrorin's anatomical traits present a more complex understanding of human evolution, particularly in how it may relate to the lineage leading to modern humans, compared to other early hominid species like the australopithicenes.