Finishing up

Paranthropus aethiopicus-the ancestor of boisei and robustus?

obtained from: https://culturealhuman.wordpress.com

-As previously mentioned, P.aethiopicus is believed to be the predecessor of boisei and robust us. I agree with this claim because there are so many similarities between the three species. Since aethiopicus came first, it was clearly the ancestor to the other two species. These three can be lined together through basic traits, such as bipedalism. The things that really link the species together for me is the cranial features. All of these species have sagittal crest to connect to large chewing muscles, and big molars for chewing. These are traits that separate the paranthropus genus from australopithicus. All of the robust australopithecines also have 'dish shaped faces'. I believe that paranthropus and australopithecus branched off from a common ancestor into these two unique genera, which ultimately led gracile australopithecines to become the ancestors of homo sapiens. I do not believe that any of the robust australopithecines led to humans. However, this is a hotly debated topic, so the only way to know for sure is to find more fossils and continue research.

Behavior

Behavior of Paranthropus aethiopicus 

-most likely made "simple stone tools" (Susman)

Obtained from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Pierre_taillée_Melka_Kunture_Éthiopie_fond.jpg

-bipedal

-large molars and sagittal crest suggest chewing of leaves and hard nuts

 -Since P. aethiopicus had such large molars and was bipedal, though not as advanced as Homo, Paranthropus aethiopicus was probably still somewhat arboreal.

-most likely did not hunt due to poor bipediality and large molars indicating a lot of vegetation in P. aethiopicus's diet

Susman, R. L.. (1991). Who Made the Oldowan Tools? Fossil Evidence for Tool Behavior in Plio-Pleistocene Hominids. Journal of Anthropological Research, 47(2), 129–151. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3630322

Locomotion

Locomotion

obtained from: http://smault23.deviantart.com/art/skeleton-dancing-459443929

-no post crania with the Black Skull and Australopithecus aethiopicus

-robust australopithecines were bipedal, not as good at bipedality as humans. 

-"Pieces of the back- bone, pelvis, lower limb, and foot indicate that the "robust" australopithecines were capable bipeds." Rightmire (1989)

-Finding evidence on the locomotion of robust australopithecines has been difficult, this is the first article I have found that discusses their locomotion. However, all of the other articles I have read, along with what I have learned in class, agrees that all australopithecines were bipedal. While looking at australopithecine skulls you can tell they were bipeds by the placement of the foremen magnum at the bottom of the skull.

All information obtained from Rightmire, G. Philip. (1989) Review: Species of Near-Humans. Science, 1514(4925), 514.

 

Classification & Context

WT-1700 aka the Black Skull

-found in West Turkana at the Turkana Basin

-fossil is the black-colored

-about 2.55 mya

-scientists originally thought the fossil was much older

-fossil was dated using stratigraphy and comparing its position to other "dated marker beds" Clark (1988)

-hard to date fossils found in Turkana Basin because "the geology is poorly understood" Clark (1988)

 

photo accessed from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tab_in_Turkana_Basin,_Kenya_%22tools_of_the_trade%22.jpg

Work Cited: Clark, G.A. (1988). 
Some Thoughts on the Black Skull: An Archeologist's Assessment of WT-17000 (A. boisei) and Systematics in Human Paleontology. American Anthropologist, 90(2), 359.

Classification and speciation

Species & Classification

    The Black Skull was placed in Paranthropus Aethiopicus for many reasons. First, it was 

labeled Paranthropus as opposed to Australopithecus because of its widened face and 

sagittal crest. Like other Australopithicines, P. Aethiopicus has a small brain. However, both

names are still used depending on the scientist's preference. Paranthropus are considered

the 'robust Australopithecines' who, due to being herbivores, have strong chewing muscles

that connect to a sagittal crest.


    Paranthropus Aethiopicus is very similar to both Paranthropus Boisei and 

Australopithecus Afarensis, the biggest difference was the age of the skull. Due to this, 

scientists believed that "The Black Skull thus seemed to us a potential evolutionary link 

between afarensis and the later robustus and boisei". Johanson (1993)

Obtained from https://www.flickr.com/photos/beowabbit/14782109553

(All information obtained from) Works cited: Johanson, D. C. (1993). A skull to chew on ["Australopithecus aethiopicus"]. Natural History, 102(5), 52-53.

T

Paranthropus aethiopicus- "The Black Skull" or KNM-WT 17000

Photo on top: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AParanthropus_aethiopicus_face_(University_of_Zurich).JPG 

Photo on bottom: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pahudson/11261772116

-Found at Lake Turkana in northern Kenya

-2.5 million years old

-Also know as Australopithicus aethiopicus, a robust Australopithicine

-Sunken face

-Plant-eater

-Small brain

-Very large (pre)molars

-Sagittal crest indicates strong muscles for chewing

-Though it is not a direct ancestor of Homo Sapiens, it is an important fossil because it is from a time period where there are not many hominid fossils. P. aethiopicus can help anthropologists figure out which hominid lineage led to modern humans. 

-"With their massive jaws, greatly enlarged chewing muscles, and huge crushing and grinding cheek teeth, the robust australopithecines were once successful members of the hominid family--the group that includes humans and their extinct close relatives."Johanson (1993)

-Due to similarities between species, "The Black Skull thus seemed to us a potential evolutionary link between afarensis and the later robustus and boisei" Johanson (1993) A. Afarensis is an important species because it contains the fossil 'Lucy', an early bipedal primate.

(All information obtained from) Works cited: Johanson, D. C. (1993). A skull to chew on ["Australopithecus aethiopicus"]. Natural History, 102(5), 52-53.