News in Brief Genetics

Indonesia’s pygmies didn’t descend from hobbits, DNA analysis suggests

The Rampasasa live on Flores where hobbit fossils were found, but don’t share a genetic history

Rampasasa villagers

ISLAND SHRINK  Rampasasa pygmies on the Indonesian island of Flores display no DNA hints of hobbit ancestry, scientists say. The 1.2-meter-tall Rampasasa villager shown here has disputed claims by tour guides that he is descendant of hobbits.

Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Hobbits took a separate evolutionary path to becoming small than did short, modern-day humans living on the same Indonesian island, a new DNA analysis suggests.