Part 7/15:
The discovery quickly ignited debates within the scientific community. Skeptics questioned whether Ardipithecus truly belonged within the human lineage or was simply a primitive ape or a side branch. Central to the controversy was the interpretation of its anatomy:
- Is it part of our direct ancestors? Some researchers argued that Ardipithecus belongs to the direct evolutionary line leading to humans, primarily because of its bipedal traits. Others wondered whether it merely represents a mosaic of primitive features.