Mammal
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
Sahelanthropus tchadensisAlso known as Toumaï
Sahelanthropus tchadensis lived roughly seven million years ago during the Late Miocene, inhabiting a mosaic landscape of gallery forests, open savanna, and the shores of ancient Lake Chad. Its skull combines an ape-sized braincase with surprisingly flat facial features and small, worn canines that resemble later hominins more than contemporary apes. The forward position of its foramen magnum indicates that it could hold its head upright and likely possessed the ability to walk on two legs.
FossilHominid
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWild fruits, Tubers and roots, Insects and grubs
Predators
- Sabertooth cats
- Prehistoric crocodiles
- Giant hyenas
ThreatsPredation by ancient carnivores and long-term environmental drying
HabitatsLate Miocene gallery forests, lakeshore woodlands, and savanna mosaics
Life spanEstimated 30–45 years
Classification
- FamilyHominidae
- SpeciesSahelanthropus tchadensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species known only from Late Miocene fossil specimens.
Responsible observation
- Museum Exhibits: View fossil reconstructions and cranial casts in prominent natural history collections.
- Academic Updates: Read current paleoanthropological journals to track findings on its limb bones.
Image unavailableLater Hominin Later Hominin Close Relative 
Extant Relative Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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