New Fossil Discovery Could Kick Lucy Out of the Human Family Tree

A new fossil discovery in Ethiopia challenges Lucy's status as the direct ancestor of modern humans. The Burtele foot, found in sediment dating to 3.4 million years ago, has been linked to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a species that coexisted with Lucy. This discovery suggests that upright walking evolved in multiple forms and that different species had distinct dietary habits and ecological niches.