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Fossil teeth found in Ethiopia point to a new human species. Credit: Brian Villmoare / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Scientists have identified a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary line, based on fossilized teeth found in northeastern Ethiopia.
The discovery includes 13 teeth dating back as far as 2.65 million years, providing fresh insight into the early stages of human development. The newly discovered fossils were unearthed in the Ledi-Geraru region of the Afar desert, an area long known for major paleoanthropological discoveries.
The teeth—ten from one individual and three from another—are believed to belong to two separate species. Researchers say one set came from a newly identified member of Australopithecus, a genus predating modern humans. The other set likely belongs to the earliest known species within the Homo genus.
Although scientists have not formally named either species, the fossils represent a significant addition to understanding the timeline and complexity of human evolution in Ethiopia, where many key discoveries have emerged.
Distinct traits suggest a new line of early ancestors
The teeth attributed to Australopithecus display traits distinct from the six previously known species in that genus, leading researchers to classify them as part of a seventh. Meanwhile, the three additional teeth share characteristics with the oldest known Homo species, which was first identified in the same region in 2013 through a jawbone fossil. Both of these sets date from a period when different hominin species may have overlapped in the same environment.
Brian Villmoare, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who led the study, explained that these findings challenge the long-held idea of a single evolutionary line. He explained that, much like other organisms, early humans branched into multiple species, many of which simultaneously co-existed rather than evolving in a straight line.
Why is #Ethiopia the origin of plenty? Well in its Afar Region, teeth dating 2.8 to 2.6 million years found recently reveal a new Australopithecus species, related to “Lucy.” This newly discovered relative lived alongside early members of Homo. #VisitEthiopia pic.twitter.com/cWk9EKQvaw
— Billene ቢልለኔ Aster Seyoum (@BilleneSeyoum) August 13, 2025
The discovery points to a period of evolutionary overlap, raising questions about whether these early human relatives may have competed for similar resources. Kaye Reed, a paleoecologist at Arizona State University and co-director of the research, noted that the team is currently analyzing the teeth to determine dietary habits.
If the two species consumed similar foods, competition may have occurred. Reed also pointed to earlier findings of simple stone tools in the same region, likely created by members of the Homo genus.
Dating methods reveal the age and environment of the fossils
Researchers determined the age of the fossils using a radiometric dating technique that analyzed feldspar crystals in volcanic ash layers. This method relies on the radioactive decay of argon and is widely used in geological dating.
Although the Afar Region is now a hot, arid expanse, it was once a lush environment with rivers, lakes, and a variety of wildlife. Fossil records indicate that giraffes, elephants, hippos, horses, and predators like saber-toothed cats shared this ecosystem.
This new evidence confirms that at least four different hominin species lived in East Africa at the time. These included two forms of Australopithecus, a species of Paranthropus with skull features adapted for heavy chewing, and the early Homo specimen. Another Australopithecus species was present in southern Africa, bringing the total known hominins from this period to five.
Among the most famous Australopithecus fossils is “Lucy,” discovered in 1974 in the same region. She belonged to Australopithecus afarensis and lived approximately 3.18 million years ago. Scientists say the newly found teeth do not match Lucy’s species, further supporting the idea that multiple hominin species coexisted.
Villmoare emphasized that the new Australopithecus species should not be seen as a missing link. He said there’s no evidence it directly led to later human species. Reed added that each fossil discovery continues to reveal a branching, complex evolutionary tree, rather than a straight line leading to modern humans.
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