The former almost certainly represents birds which were the direct ancestors of the living population.

It was the direct ancestor of the modern women's blouse.

The novel shows us a world that is the direct ancestor of our own.

The species was probably not a direct ancestor of modern humans.

However, names are sometimes borrowed from direct ancestors and other family members.

That makes it a bit easier to see the fossil as a direct human ancestor.

"Not all are direct ancestors; but they have lived in my home from the beginning."

The reason for this is that they were our direct ancestors.

Lucy may not even be a direct human ancestor after all.

The latter three they consider to be their direct ancestors.