Is the 'hobbit' -- the nickname given to diminutive skeletons found on the Indonesian isle of Flores in 2003 -- in fact an extinct human species, enough to be called Homo floresiensis?

2003年，在印度尼西亚的弗罗里斯岛上发现了一些小得出奇的骨骼化石，他们被亲切地称作“霍比特人”，这些霍比特是不是一个灭绝的人种？ 他们可以被正式地称作弗罗里斯“人”吗？

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Frodo Baggins, a human - like creature called a hobbit, is the hero of the story.

弗罗多？巴金斯，一个被称作哈比的长得像人类的生物是故事的主角。

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But in 2004, researchers discovered that a dwarf species of human, dubbed "The Hobbit", was living on the Indonesian island of Flores until 12, 000 years ago - long after modern humans had colonised the region.

BBC: DNA identifies new ancient human dubbed 'X-woman'

She concluded that the hobbit was a separate human species.

BBC: Study backs 'hobbit' island dwarfism theory

This could have sealed the case for the Hobbit as a new species, rather than a modern human pygmy or diseased individual - as some researchers have suggested it is.

BBC: NEWS | Science/Nature | Team widens search for 'Hobbits'