Wrist bones distinguish Hobbits

    

     Summary: Scientists have discovered three new wrist bones of hobbits in Indonesia that may show that hobbits belong to the Homo floresiensis species. The structure of the wrists also show that the hobbits' wrist would limit their ability to make or use stone tools, but they would still be able to primitively use them. It also shows that the hobbit wrist differ very much from that of a human. These wrists also show that hobbits were descended from a member of the human evolutionary species, branching off about one million years ago. 

     Relevance: In class, we discussed how the anatomy of an individual can be used to determine how closely it is related to another individual. In this case, the hobbit wrists are being used to determine how closely related hobbits are to humans. It is also an example of homologous structures, where the wrists of hobbits were used to use tools, similar to humans. 

Article: News in Brief: Wrist bones said to distinguish hobbits
Published: January 9, 2013

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/347436/description/News_in_Brief_Wrist_bones_said_to_distinguish_hobbits