Real-life Hobbits discovered on remote tropical island

The four-stone cavemen – dubbed "Hobbits" due to their small bodies – had brains the size of a grapefruit and lived alongside now-extinct pigmy elephants, known as stegodon.

Some researchers thought the Hobbits were just dwarfs or deformed men.

But new analysis of their skulls shows they have "no characteristics" in common with us.

Most academics believe the new species of early man – known as homo floresiensis – lived on the island until about 15,000 years ago.

But some believe they are the fabled human-like creatures called the "Ebu Gogo", who local tribes claim lived up at least the 18th century – and may still be alive.

The Nage people of Flores claim to have wiped out the Ebu Gogo – who were about 5ft, had wide, flat noses, broad faces, large mouths, hairy bodies and "long, pendulous breasts" – about seven generations ago after they stole food and kidnapped children.

But – according to legend – one pair escaped into the forest, where their descendants may still be living.

Some researchers have claimed Flores Man – uncovered in a cave called Liang Bua in 2003 – were just humans deformed by disease or malnutrition.

But the new study has ruled this out.

Lead author Antoine Balzeau, of France's Natural History Museum, said: "There were no characteristics from our species."

The Hobbits could be a distant cousin of humans – descended from a common ancestor – who "shrank" due to a process called "insular dwarfing".

Sometimes species marooned on islands shrink over hundreds of generations if the food supply declines.

The pigmy stegodon whose remains were found alongside homo floresiensis could be another example of this.

(dailystar.co.uk)