Final answer:
The most surprising aspect of H. floresiensis's discovery is the small size of the species coupled with their advanced behaviors, challenging traditional views on brain size and cognitive abilities, and highlighting the impact of island dwarfism on human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most surprising aspects of the discovery of Homo floresiensis, commonly known as "the Hobbit", is its small stature and brain size, which challenges previous notions about cognitive abilities in relation to brain size. Standing only about 3 feet 7 inches tall with a brain size of just 380 cc, equivalent to the size of an orange, H. floresiensis demonstrates that it had developed complex behaviors such as tool-making, use of fire, and hunting similar to its likely ancestor, H. erectus. This, despite their small brain size, which would traditionally suggest limited cognitive skills. Additionally, the possibility that H. floresiensis evolved under conditions of island dwarfism on Flores Island, resulting in a unique brain-to-body size ratio and neurological reorganization, has provoked a reconsideration of human evolution, particularly the adaptability of the Homo genus to different ecosystems.