Descent of Man - Australopithecus

	Australopithecus was the first early hominid found in Africa. Anatomy professor Raymond Dart identified this infant skull as a new, intermediary genus and species of hominid in 1924 (Australopithecus africanus means "man-ape of Southern Africa"). The skull, though immature, features hominid rather than apelike characteristics: a rounded, high forehead lacking browridges, rounded dental arcade, no space between canine and first lower premolar, relatively large fossilized brain and a foramen magnum (the hole under the skull from which the spinal cord emerges) positioned forwardly under the skull indicating bipedal locomotion. The child's cranial capacity is estimated at 405 cc, with a projected adult size of 440 cc. It was not until other, adult, specimens were discovered that this taxonomic identification gained acceptance in the established scientific community. Size: 5 3/8"L, 3"W, 4 1/2H" Origin: Taung, Bechuanland, Africa Age: 2.3 million years old
Australopithecus boisei (Zinjanthropos) Nutcracker Man. The famous fossil was discovered by Mary Leakey in 1959 and originally classified as Zinjanthropus boisei, though later reclassified as A. boisei. This discovery spurred modern paleoanthroplogy to wider and extended disciplines, and focused paleoanthropologist's attention on East Africa. Unique in hominid evolution, A. boisei's massive skull features a broad concave face, enormous flat molars and "hyper-robust" cranial adaptations for efficient chewing, hence it's nickname: Nutcracker Man. Note the sagittal crest and extremely large area for muscle attachments on the zygomatic arch. The deep, thick mandible displays characteristics necessary for processing low quality food. Cranial capacity of this individual: 530 cc. Size: 8 3/4"L, 6 1/2"W, 7 1/4"H Origin: Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Central Africa. Age: 1.8 million years old
	Australopithecus robustus, discovered in 1950, called formerly Parathrops crassidens (and A. boisei), added significantly to the knowledge of australopithecines. The Transaal cave site where this was found was blasted by explosives but, remarkably, the skull was only slightly damaged. The sagittal crest, large zygomatic arches with relatively small front teeth and large grinding teeth suggests australopithecine. However some researchers are now reconsidering a new genus for this skull. Size: 6 3/4"L, 4 1/4"W, 5"H Origin: Swartkkrans, Taung, Bechuanaland, South Africa Age: 1.75 million years old

Updated 01.10.2002