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Orrorin tugenensis (BAR 1000'00)

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description Orrorin tugenensis (BAR 1000'00) Overview

Orrorin tugenensis is an extinct primate from the late Miocene, known from fossils discovered in Kenya's Tugen Hills and dated to about six million years ago. The specimen catalogued as BAR 1000'00 is among the material associated with the species. Features of the femur have been interpreted as evidence of habitual bipedal movement, although Orrorin's precise relationship to later hominins remains a subject of scientific discussion.

help Orrorin tugenensis (BAR 1000'00) FAQ

What is BAR 1000'00 in the Orrorin fossil record?

BAR 1000'00 is a specimen number assigned to part of the fossil material attributed to Orrorin tugenensis. The prefix is associated with the Baringo paleontological collections from Kenya.

Where was Orrorin tugenensis discovered?

The fossils were recovered from the Tugen Hills in Kenya by the Kenya Palaeontology Expedition. The species name tugenensis refers to that region.

Why is the Orrorin femur important to the bipedalism debate?

Researchers have argued that the femur's neck, cortical bone distribution, and hip-joint anatomy are compatible with habitual upright walking. Because Orrorin lived around six million years ago, that interpretation would place bipedal traits close to the proposed human-chimpanzee divergence.

Is Orrorin older than Lucy?

Yes. Orrorin tugenensis dates to around six million years ago, while the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy is about 3.2 million years old.

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