Scientists have discovered a new fossil ape species, Masripithecus moghraensis, in northern Egypt, dating back 17 to 18 million years.

The remarkably preserved jaw and teeth suggest the ape had a flexible diet that helped it survive changing environments.

More importantly, the discovery fills a major gap in the fossil record and raises the possibility that the common ancestor of all living apes originated in North Africa or the Middle East, offering a new perspective on the evolutionary journey that ultimately led to humans.

This episode includes AI-generated content.