APRIL 1, 2019 - John Bennett, a British paleoanthropologist announced what could potentially be the most significant discovery in a hundred years of human origins research. 

A team of anthropologists, archaeologists, and geneticists have set up base in Siberia to delve in study and research of human origins. The team has recently announced that a newly discovered hominid species have interbred with Homo sapiens and have left traces of their genetic makeup that are observed up to the present day among locals of Russia, Ukraine, Korea, Mongolia, and China.

Bone fragments were found a year ago in the bowels of a cave in Siberia. Among the found fragments are that of a femur, lower jaw, pelvic bone, and a tailbone. Because Homo Sapiens were known to have inhabited the area about 50,000 years ago, the collected bones were first assumed to be that of early modern humans.
However, further studies, including a DNA analysis have revealed that the fragments of bones belong to a different and newly found species which the team has aptly named Homo apriliensis, after its month of discovery. 

The DNA analysis of the new species has revealed the presence of the genetic makeup from Denisovans or Denisova hominins, and Homo sapiens. It is possible that the three species have interbred at some point in time. However, the most amusing discovery regarding the species is the vestigial tail that they had. Dr. Bennett has explained the possibility of the vestigial tail having less function or perhaps even develop new minor ones.

There are still examples of vestigiality among Modern humans. The wisdom teeth, appendix, and coccyx or tailbone are among these vestigial traits.

Like other mammals, humans also have a tail during development. About one-sixth of the size of a human embryo is a tail which is present for four weeks and is absorbed as the embryo grows into a fetus. Even if the tailbone has lost its original function which is to assist in mobility and balance, it still serves as an attachment point for muscles.

The developing fetus of a Homo apriliensis is said to have retained a small protruding tail which remained visible after birth. However, the short length of the tail could mean that it did not serve any purpose. 

Dr. Bennett stated that the recent discovery was the first evidence found of an archaic hominid having an external tail. The unprecedented discovery is said to completely change the current knowledge of human evolution. The paleoanthropologist is optimistic about the direction of the research and the results that it would yield a year from now.