Answer:
Homo naledi is a species of extinct hominins that lived in South Africa between 236,000 and 335,000 years ago. The species was first discovered in 2013 in the Rising Star Cave system in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, near Johannesburg. The discovery was made by a team of scientists led by Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
Evidence of Tools Used:
There is no direct evidence of tool use by Homo naledi. However, the discovery of the species in the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave system, which is only accessible through a narrow chute, suggests that the species may have had some level of cognitive ability and dexterity to navigate the difficult terrain.
Additionally, the discovery of the species in the same cave system as stone tools used by other hominin species suggests that Homo naledi may have had some level of interaction with other hominins who were using tools.
Species Features or Characteristics:
Facial Features: Homo naledi had a unique combination of primitive and derived facial features. The species had a small braincase, similar in size to that of Australopithecus, but with more human-like facial features. The face was flat and broad, with a small nose and no protruding brow ridge.
Teeth: The teeth of Homo naledi were small and simple, with a relatively small size compared to other hominins. The molars were large and had thick enamel, suggesting that the species had a tough diet.
Brain: Homo naledi had a small brain, with an estimated volume of around 500-600 cubic centimeters. This is similar in size to the brain of Australopithecus, but much smaller than the brains of modern humans.
Behavior: The discovery of Homo naledi in the Dinaledi Chamber suggests that the species may have had some level of cognitive ability and dexterity to navigate difficult terrain. Additionally, the discovery of the species in the same cave system as stone tools used by other hominin species suggests that Homo naledi may have had some level of interaction with other hominins who were using tools.
How They Walk: Based on the anatomy of the leg bones, it is believed that Homo naledi walked upright on two legs, similar to modern humans.
What They Eat: The teeth of Homo naledi suggest that the species had a tough diet, possibly consisting of fibrous plants and tough meats.
References:
Berger, L. R., Hawks, J., de Ruiter, D. J., Churchill, S. E., Schmid, P., Delezene, L. K., ... & Zipfel, B. (2015). Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife, 4, e09560.
Dirks, P. H., Berger, L. R., Roberts, E. M., Kramers, J. D., Hawks, J., Randolph-Quinney, P. S., ... & Menter, C. G. (2017). The geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife, 6, e24231.
Step-by-step explanation: