Final answer:
Homo rudolfensis was discovered in 1972 by Bernard Ngeneo in Kenya and is dated to about 2 MYA. Its relationship with other Homo species, like H. habilis and Homo erectus, is still debated within the scientific community, with some proposing it as a distinct species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homo rudolfensis was discovered in 1972 along Lake Turkana in Kenya by Bernard Ngeneo, a member of a team led by the paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey. This archaic Homo species is dated to about 2 million years ago (MYA) and coexisted with other Homo species like Homo habilis and Homo ergaster. While the exact taxonomic position and lineage of H. rudolfensis are still debated, some hypotheses suggest that it might be a male H. habilis with a larger cranium, while others argue it's a distinct species entirely. The lack of postcranial materials and associated tools with H. rudolfensis specimens makes drawing clear conclusions challenging, with additional complications arising from the exploration of the relationship between H. rudolfensis, H. habilis, and subsequent species like Homo erectus. Based on the provided timeline and evolutionary context, Homo rudolfensis adds to the complex mosaic of early Homo evolution, highlighting the concurrent existence and potential interactions among multiple hominin species in the same geographic area.