Mysterious Ancient Ape May Have Evolved a Key Human Trait

Femur FM3549AZM6 was discovered in 2016 at the Azmaka excavation site fossil femur found at Azmaka, Bulgaria in 2016.

Graecopithecus specimen is about 7.2 million years old estimated age reported by the researchers.

Individual is estimated to have weighed about 24 kilograms (53 pounds) weight estimate provided in the study.

Femoral neck is relatively long and more upwardly oriented compared with chimpanzee femur anatomical comparison reported in the paper.

Gluteal muscle insertion points appear consistent with adaptations for bipedal locomotion musculoskeletal observations reported by the researchers.