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Brief Communications

Nature 419, 582 (10 October 2002) | doi:10.1038/419582a

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Palaeoanthropology (communication arising): Sahelanthropus or 'Sahelpithecus'?

Michel Brunet, (for the authors)

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In 1925, when Dart described Australopithecus africanus1 as a hominid, critics interpreted it as a juvenile gorilla2, 3, 4. Last year, Wolpoff's colleagues (B.S. and M.P.) claimed that their Kenyan fossil Orrorin was a direct ancestor of Homo5, and now Wolpoff et al. conclude that Sahelanthropus was an ape (specifically, a female gorilla ancestor6) — a belief that, to our knowledge, is not supported by published or unpublished data.