A million years ago, a species known as Homo erectus most likely survived in an arid desert with no trees. By Carl Zimmer Chimpanzees live only in African rainforests and woodlands. Orangutans live only in the jungles of Indonesia.

Over a million years ago, Homo erectus demonstrated remarkable adaptability by thriving in harsh desert environments, contradicting previous beliefs that only Homo sapiens could manage such feats. Researchers at Oldupai Gorge,

Homo erectus was able to adapt to and survive in desert-like environments at least 1.2 million years ago, according to a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment. The findings suggest that behavioral adaptations included returning repeatedly over thousands of years to specific rivers and ponds for fresh water,