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Review of the Homo naledi Fossil Collection from South Africa Using the Biological Species Concept

Sergey V. Vyrskiy*

While analysing the description of Homo naledi, it was observed that the founders failed to specify any maternal or other species phyletically associated with H. naledi. Moreover, the direction of further evolution of the species was not determined, and it was concluded that the species is extinct. Furthermore, exclusively morphometric characteristics of the remains have been used for species diagnostics, which is typical of the methods of the morphological species concept. For a more precise definition of the position of H. naledi among other species of the genus Homo within the African bipedal primate system, this study attempted to identify the fossil characters that are diagnostically essential from the point of view of the biological species concept. This study helped reveal the age of the fossil collection deposit and concluded that H. naledi shares a common origin with other species of the genus Homo. In addition, it was shown that H. naledi had a hand structure that was progressive for its time and a high cerebral index, which raises doubts regarding the validity of its extinction.