Final answer:
The nickname given to H. floresiensis fossils is "The Hobbit" because of their notably small stature. This reflects the idea that they underwent island dwarfism, evolving from a larger ancestor into smaller beings adapted to the limited resources and unique conditions on the island of Flores.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fossils of Homo floresiensis, which were discovered on the island of Flores in Indonesia, have been affectionately nicknamed "the Hobbit" due to their small stature. An adult H. floresiensis stood at approximately 3 feet 7 inches tall, akin to the fictional hobbits described in J.R.R. Tolkien's novels. This nickname reflects the surprise and intrigue that these diminutive human relatives have sparked in the scientific community since their discovery in 2003. The Liang Bua cave showed signs of fire use and hunting, indicating that despite their small brain size, floresiensis fossils were capable of complex behaviors much like their larger hominin cousins.
The term "Hobbit" encapsulates the unique characteristics of these fossils, including their short stature as well as evidence suggesting that they might have undergone an evolutionary process known as island dwarfism, where animals evolving in isolated island conditions can become significantly smaller due to limited resources and lack of predators. H. floresiensis likely evolved from Homo erectus which became isolated on Flores and adapted to the island's constraints. Despite their small brain size of just 380 cc, similar to that of an orange, they managed to maintain cognitive abilities, as evidenced by the presence of tools and the use of fire found in their habitat.