A Mysterious 45,000-Year-Old Seafloor Discovery Reveals New Evidence Denisovans Were Extremely Large  

• The Penghu fossils, discovered in 2010, are believed to be a femur and tibia belonging to Denisovans, an enigmatic hominin species. These fossils, found in the Penghu Channel between Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, are estimated to be 45,000 years old.
• Protein analysis in 2025 confirmed that a mandible retrieved with the fossils belonged to a male Denisovan, and additional analysis of the other specimen suggests it also belongs to Denisovans. If confirmed, this could expand the fossil record of Denisovans, providing new insights into their size and appearance.
• The fossils suggest Denisovans were significantly taller than modern humans, with Penghu 2 estimated at 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) and Penghu 3 at 190 cm (6 ft 3 in). These measurements challenge previous assumptions about body size in Pleistocene hominins and suggest Denisovans may have been larger than previously thought.

• The discovery raises questions about Denisovan anatomy and geographic distribution. The fossils, despite being relatively late in Denisovan history, offer new data on their physical characteristics. The lack of complete fossil remains has led to ongoing debate about Denisovan appearance and size.
• The Penghu fossils’ origin and preservation conditions remain unclear, as no precise records exist about where or when they were dredged from the seafloor. However, modern proteomic techniques have helped confirm their Denisovan identity.
• The study, which has not yet undergone peer review, suggests Denisovans may have been larger than earlier Homo erectus and Late Pleistocene Homo sapiens in eastern Asia. This challenges existing theories about body size evolution in hominins and highlights the significance of the Penghu fossils in expanding our understanding of Denisovan biology.

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