The dichotomy between African apes and humans revisited.

The dichotomy between the great apes and humans evinces intense debate internationally. For the past dozen years and more, discoveries have multiplied, notably in Africa (Ardipithecus, Orrorin and Sahelanthropus) which have permitted reassessment of older discoveries such as Otavipithecus, Samburupithecus and Kenyapithecus. It now seems that the ancestor of our lineage lived in Africa, where the oldest evidence of human-like bipedalism has been demonstrated at about 6 Ma, and that it occupied a relatively humid environment (C) 2004 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.