The face of half of the half-ape of human ancestors

Karabo lived nearly two million years ago, possibly our first ancestor and the "missing link" between humans and gibbons.

Karabo's image was recreated by artist John Gurche based on the skeleton found in a cave in South Africa. Its smile, eyes and mouth are like people while cheekbones and forehead are raised like wild animals.

Portrait of Karabo

The name Karabo means "answer " and is somewhat more attractive than the scientific name Australopithecus sediba.

When discovered in 2008, scientists were surprised that Karabo had a hand-like appearance.

Women's hand bones are found in the same place as Karabo

Lee Berger, a professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (South Africa) said: "We have never seen this before. This hand is like a hand capable of making tools. It has a lot. Similarities with humans but still very rudimentary.

The first bones of Karabo were found by Professor Berger's nine-year-old son near his father's excavation.

Karabo's skull was discovered in South Africa in 2008.

Karabo's portrait, bone fragments and the incomplete skeleton of a woman in her 30s are on display at the London Museum of Natural History.

Professor Berger said relying on the skeleton could reconstruct the appearance because the skull was found intact.

Just as we, Karabo and our species go on two legs, have small teeth.
This proves that Karabo has found a way to process or even know how to cook food.

He said: 'It has a nose like a human, but only grins because chimpanzees can't smile'.

Studies suggest that it is the direct ancestor of homo erectus, the first modern human being.