Ardipithecus is a very early hominid genus, which lived during the late Neogene.
Two species are known: A. kadabba, dated to about 5.6 million years ago (late Miocene),[1] and A. ramidus, which lived about 4.4 million years ago during the early Pliocene.[2]
Because this genus shares several traits with the African great ape genera (Pan and Gorilla), some place it on the that branch rather than human branch.
Most consider it a proto-human because of a likeness in teeth with Australopithecus. Ardipithecus had bipedalism and reduced canines, like the Australopithecines.
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