A team of scientists have discovered what they claim are the remains of a new hominid species that later evolved into modern Homo sapiens.

The discovery made in South Africa involved remains of a female about 20 and a male about 8 or 9 years old, according to researcher Lee R. Berger. The fossils display features of a new species and also those of Homo erectus.

Mr. Berger has named the species as Australopithecus sediba. He said that the fossils show a significant transition between ape like creatures to human beings. The findings have been reported in the journal Science.

Describing the fossils he said that both the hominids dated back 1.78 million and 1.95 million years and were less than 4 feet tall. They show extremely small skull complete with human-like teeth.

Their long legs and arms may mean that they still were climbing trees like earlier Australopithecus species. The fossils also showed bones and a pelvis which remarkably resembled humans.

The discovery was made 25 miles from Johannesburg on a hillside. Many discoveries have been made here before. The UNESCO has declared he site as a Cradle of Humankind.

The discovery has fuelled a fierce debate on the ancestry of human beings. However, all the anthropologists are convinced about the significance of the discovery.

Some are not convinced with the claim and they say that Berger picked features that support his claim.