First ape woman suggests human ancestors may have started walking in pursuit of sex

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:43 PM on 02nd October 2009

She lived at the dawn of a new era, when chimps and people began walking (or climbing) along their own evolutionary trails. This is Ardi - the oldest member of the human family tree we've found so far.

Short, hairy and with long arms, she roamed the forests of Africa 4.4million years ago.

Her discovery, reported in detail for the first time today, sheds light on a crucial period when we were just leaving the trees. Some scientists said she could provide evidence that our ancestors first started walking upright in the pursuit of sex. MORE HERE & HERE!!

Ardi's skeleton (left) revealed she was 4ft tall and weighed 7st 12oz