# What should the lineage be called? · Who were the Denisovans? The Harbin "Dragon Man" cranium > Four answers have been proposed. Homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:16+00:00 --- **0** # What should the lineage be called? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Which fossils are Denisovans, and so what did Denisovans look like?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZAPR2WHJ/which-fossils-are-denisovans-and-so-what-did-denisovans-look)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Three names compete: the informal "Denisovans", Homo longi (2021) and Homo juluensis (2024)⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ0Y87W3G/late-middle-pleistocene-harbin-cranium-represents-a-new-homo)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ1XG39KY/making-sense-of-eastern-asian-late-quaternary-hominin). If Harbin and Xujiayao are one lineage, the names overlap⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ2D45SWC/the-proteome-of-middle-pleistocene-xujiayao-and-common). ## Answers 4 [**Homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZFK06F54/homo-longi-the-first-formal-name-given-to-a-member-of-the) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**Homo juluensis, for a large-brained Denisovan lineage distinct from H. longi.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZG2M5WNC/homo-juluensis-for-a-large-brained-denisovan-lineage) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**Keep "Denisovans" as an informal population label without a species name.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZGJ86Q05/keep-denisovans-as-an-informal-population-label-without-a) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/answers/ANS0CZKZH1W2D0H/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2010[Reich et al. puts forward: keep "Denisovans" as an informal population label without a species name.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKYYQY78SZ/genetic-history-of-an-archaic-hominin-group-from-denisova) 1. 2018[Slon et al.: denisovans interbred with Neanderthals and with modern humans.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKYZ7J1YFC/the-genome-of-the-offspring-of-a-neanderthal-mother-and-a)For: Keep "Denisovans" as an informal population label without a species name. 1. 2021[Ji et al. puts forward: homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ0Y87W3G/late-middle-pleistocene-harbin-cranium-represents-a-new-homo) 1. 2024[Bae & Wu puts forward: homo juluensis, for a large-brained Denisovan lineage distinct from H. longi.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ1XG39KY/making-sense-of-eastern-asian-late-quaternary-hominin) 1. 2026[Xing et al.: harbin and Xujiayao are both Denisovan by molecules.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ2D45SWC/the-proteome-of-middle-pleistocene-xujiayao-and-common)For: Homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage. 1. 2026[Xing et al.: both carry Denisovan variants; the 2026 study finds a shared morphology.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CZKZ2D45SWC/the-proteome-of-middle-pleistocene-xujiayao-and-common)Against: Homo juluensis, for a large-brained Denisovan lineage distinct from H. longi. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZB6C1Y2W/what-should-the-lineage-be-called%23add-source) Where it fits Who were the Denisovans? The Harbin "Dragon Man" cranium [**Which fossils are Denisovans, and so what did Denisovans look like?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZAPR2WHJ/which-fossils-are-denisovans-and-so-what-did-denisovans-look)Key question · The large, robust Middle and Late Pleistocene crania of East Asia (Harbin, Xujiayao and their allies) are… [Is the molecular identification of the Harbin cranium sound?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/denisovan-identity/questions/QST0CZKZAYJ3G7F/is-the-molecular-identification-of-the-harbin-cranium-sound)Answered · Both the proteome and the calculus mtDNA are endogenous and Denisovan. **What should the lineage be called?** You're here · homo longi, the first formal name given to a member of the lineage [ Ask a question under this one ]