Denisovan: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

400,000-year-old teeth reveal a stunning twist in human evolution • Nov. 5, 2026, 8:38 AM ET (Science Daily)

Our extinct cousins the Denisovans had a 'distinctive' appearance, new analysis reveals • Oct. 28, 2026, 7:00 AM ET (Live Science)

Famous Siberian cave yields remains of yak-like Ice Age mammal • Oct. 20, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (Straits Times)

Photos

Denisovan tooth

Denisovan mandible

Denisovan mandible

Denisovan fossil sites

A map of the Eastern Hemisphere during the Pleistocene, showing the geographic extents of several species of Homo that are thought to have existed at that time.

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Topics

human evolution Pleistocene Epoch Homo fossil hominin Australopithecus Homo erectus Neanderthal Homo habilis Australopithecus sediba Cro-Magnon Homo floresiensis Homo heidelbergensis Boskop skull Homo naledi

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

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Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024

Animal Factoids

Lion (panthera leo)

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