Flores man

Extinct species of archaic human

{{{catalog_number}}}

  [[File:|frameless|alt=]]

Catalog no.	{{{catalog_number}}}
Common name	{{{common_name}}}
Species	H. floresiensis
Age
Place discovered	{{{place_discovered}}}
Date discovered	{{{date_discovered}}}
Discovered by	{{{discovered_by}}}

Homo floresiensis, commonly referred to as Flores Man, is an extinct species of archaic human that inhabited the island of Flores in Indonesia. The species is notable for its small stature and cranial capacity, leading to its nickname "the hobbit". The first specimen was discovered in 2003 at the Liang Bua cave on Flores.

Discovery

The remains of Homo floresiensis were first discovered in 2003 by a team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists led by Michael Morwood and Raden Soejono. The most complete individual, known as LB1, was a female approximately 1.06 meters (3 feet 6 inches) tall. The discovery was made in the Liang Bua cave, which has since become a significant archaeological site.

Morphology

Homo floresiensis is characterized by its small body size, with adults standing about 1.1 meters (3 feet 7 inches) tall and weighing around 25 kilograms (55 pounds). The species had a small brain size, with an average cranial capacity of about 426 cubic centimeters, comparable to that of a chimpanzee or the extinct Australopithecus. Despite the small brain size, evidence suggests that H. floresiensis used stone tools and may have had complex behaviors.

Evolutionary Significance

The evolutionary origins of Homo floresiensis are a subject of debate. Some researchers propose that the species descended from an early migration of Homo erectus to Flores, undergoing insular dwarfism due to the island's limited resources. Others suggest that H. floresiensis may have descended from an even more primitive hominin, such as Homo habilis or an unknown ancestor.

Paleoenvironment

During the time of Homo floresiensis, Flores was home to a unique ecosystem, including Stegodon, a type of dwarf elephant, and the giant Komodo dragon. The island's isolation and the presence of these unique species likely influenced the evolution of H. floresiensis.

Extinction

The exact timing and cause of the extinction of Homo floresiensis remain unclear. Evidence suggests that the species may have survived until about 50,000 years ago, overlapping with the arrival of modern humans in the region. The introduction of new species, environmental changes, or competition with modern humans may have contributed to their extinction.

Controversies

The discovery of Homo floresiensis has sparked significant debate within the scientific community. Some researchers initially suggested that the remains might represent modern humans with pathological conditions, such as microcephaly. However, subsequent studies have largely supported the classification of H. floresiensis as a distinct species.

Also see

• Homo erectus
• Homo habilis
• Liang Bua
• Insular dwarfism
• Human evolution