‘Missing link’ unearthed in Africa

REMAINS of at least nine ape-like creatures, which some experts believe to be the closest thing known to the “missing link”, have been unearthed in Africa.

Ardipithecus ramidus was identified just 11 years ago. Before the most recent find, scientists had discovered only a handful of fossils of the species.

Anthropologists believe the creature, which lived about 4.5 million years ago, was the first member of the hominid family which includes modern humans.