Denisovan is the term for a group of Hominins that thrived in the middle of the Pleistocene and covered some of the most populated areas in modern history. From frozen mountains to tropical islands, blizzards to beaches this group lived throughout Eurasia, Australia, and many Pacific Islands.

Using mitochondrial DNA scientists can track past migrations of Denisovans and even tell us where their legacy lives on. You see, same as with Neanderthals, Denisovan DNA lives on in certain populations.

But, Denisovans haven’t really been well defined yet. Despite DNA profiles, several fragments of bones, and one debatable wonderfully intact skull, the group referred to as Denisovans isn’t officially classified as a species of Homo, or even a sub-species. They are for a lack of a better word, a mystery.

One of the discoveries was a hybrid Neanderthal-Denisovan, named Denny because scientists recognize a square peg for a square hole as far as naming conventions go.