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Palaeoanthropology > Australopithecus and Paranthropus > Flashcards

Australopithecus and Paranthropus Flashcards

1
Q

Australopithecus anamensis - temporal range, sites, and environment

A

4.2-3.9mya

Kanapoi, Kenya
Allia Bay, Kenya
Asa Issie, Ethiopia
Aramis, Ethiopia

Open woodland/gallery forest environment, and open savannah environment

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2
Q

Australopithecus anamensis - derived traits compared to apes

A

Reduced canines
Larger molars, thick enamel
Undisputed bipedalism based on tibia - enlarged proximal extreme - earliest undisputed evidence

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3
Q

Australopithecus anamensis - primitive traits

A

More U-shaped dental arcade
Sloping mandibular symphysis
Premolar asymmetry

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4
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - temporal range, holotype and sites

A

3.7-2.8mya

LH4 (Laetoli)

Sites:
Laetoli, Tanzania
Omo, Ethiopia
Hadar, Ethiopia
Maka, Ethiopia
Allia Bay, Kenya
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5
Q

Holotype

A

The single physical example of an organism used to formally describe the species

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6
Q

Hypodigm

A

All fossil materials that are recognised as part of a given species

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7
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - cranial traits

A 
Large cheek bones
Facial prognathism
More vertical mandibular symphysis
Reduced canines
Thicker enamel
Robust jaws
Small brain size (380-430cc) relative to face
Strong nuchal crest for muscle attachments
Anteriorly placed foramen magnum
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8
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - dental changes

A

Incisors and canines become smaller
Postcanine dentition becomes relatively large
Enamel thickness increase from Au. anamensis

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9
Q

AL 288-1

A

“Lucy”

Australopithecus afarensis

3.2mya, Hadar, Ethiopia

Pattern of fractures found in her skeleton are compatible with a fall from considerable height, possibly a tree -> compressive and hinge (greenstick) fractures. This brings back the debate about whether Au. was still spending some time in the trees.

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10
Q

A.L. 333

A

Australopithecus afarensis

Hadar, Ethiopia

17 individuals - able to assess variation within the group.

Sexual dimorphism similar to orangutans or gorillas.

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11
Q

The Dikika baby

A

Australopithecus afarensis

3.3mya, Dikika region, Ethiopia

3 year old. Brain size and age suggests slower brain growth = derived trait from Pan

Semi-circular canals of the inner ear similar to apes

Curved fingers

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12
Q

Laetoli footprints

A

Australopithecus afarensis, 3.7mya

Discovered by Mary Leakey, 1978

Three sets of footprints - one in the steps of the larger - in a wet volcanic ash layer

Adducted big toe, development of arches, deep depression of the heel

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13
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - primitive/arboreal features

A

Phalanges long and curved for grasping and suspension

Glenoid cavity is cranially oriented

Long arms and short hindlimbs (large intermembral index)

Funnel-shaped thorax

Small lumbar vertebrae

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14
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - derived/bipedal traits

A

Low, broad ilium

Anteriorly rotated iliac blades

Lordotic curvature of lumbar vertebrae

Long femoral neck

Valgus knee

Large calcaneus

Anteriorly placed foramen magnum

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15
Q

Do primitive arboreal features necessarily reflect locomotion?

A

No - they may have just not disappeared yet

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16
Q

Australopithecus afarensis - environments

A

Au. afarensis lived in environments ranging from more closed woodland to dry open grasslands

The ability to walk AND climb trees would have allowed them to use resources from all of these environments

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17
Q

Australopithecus africanus - temporal range, holotype, and sites

A

3.2-2.4mya

Taung 1 cranium and mandible, Taung, South Africa

Sites:
Taung, South Africa
Sterkfontein, South Africa
Makapansgat, South Africa
Gladysvale, South Africa
18
Q

Taung child

A

Australopithecus africanus

Small canines, human-like teeth

Foramen magnum on base of skull

Believed to have been killed by an eagle due to puncture marks at the bottom of the eye socket, as well as eggshells and an unusual mixture of animal bones found alongside the skull.

19
Q

S.T.S. 5

A

Australopithecus africanus, female

Slightly enlarged brain and rounder cranial vault

Less prognathism compared to Au. afarensis

Less developed nuchal cresting

Reduced anterior dentition

20
Q

S.T.S. 71

A

Australopithecus africanus, male

Cheek bones swept forwards, nasal pillars

Robust mandible

Larger cheek teeth with thick molar enamel

21
Q

Australopithecus sediba - temporal range, holotype, sites

A

1.977mya

MH1 (Malapa, South Africa) - partial skeleton

Sites:
Malapa, South Africa

22
Q

Australopithecus sediba - traits

A 
Small brain and teeth
Primitive-looking molars
Derived thumb length
Primitve curvature of phalanges
Cranially oriented glenoid fossa
Relatively long forearm

Au.-like in size but evidence for Homo-like reorganisation of brain structures

23
Q

Australopithecus sediba - similarities with australopiths

A

Small brain size
Primitive molar cusps
Small body size
Long upper limbs

24
Q

Australopithecus sediba - similarities with Homo

A

Front of brain reorganised
Smaller teeth and chewing muscles
Hand with precision grip

25
Q

Paranthropus aethiopicus - temporal range, holotype and sites

A

~2.5mya

Omo mandible, Ethiopia

Sites:
Omo, Ethiopia
West Turkana, Kenya

26
Q

KNM-WT 17000

A

“The Black Skull”

Transitional between Au. afarensis and P. boisei = P. aethiopicus?

Prognathic face
Moderately sized anterior tooth roots
In many craniodental features, not as robust as later P. boisei

27
Q

Paranthropus aethiopicus - cranial traits

A

Well developed sagittal and nuchal crests
Prognathism
Relatively small brain
Forward-projecting zygomatics

28
Q

Paranthropus boisei - temporal range, holotype, sites

A

2.3-1.4mya

OH 5 cranium, Olduvai, Tanzania

Sites:
Olduvai, Tanzania
Peninj, Tanzania
Omo, Ethiopia
Konso, Ethiopia
Koobi Fora, Kenya
West Turkana, Kenya
29
Q

Paranthropus boisei - cranial traits

A

Forwardly-placed sagittal crest
Forward-projecting zygomatics
Prognathism

30
Q

OH 5

A

“The Nutcracker Man” - although more recent analyses indicate otherwise

Paranthropus boisei, Olduvai, Tanzania, 1.8mya

Derived cranial features:
Sagittal and nuchal crests
Slight increase in brain size (~500cc)
Large cheek bones
Large posterior teeth
Small anterior teeth
Molarised premolars
Large postcanine teeth
31
Q

Australopithecus garhi

A 
Ethiopia, 2.5mya
Prognathic lower face
Sagittal crest
Cranial capacity 440cc
Larger canines and incisors than paranthropus
Large posterior teeth, but thin enamel

Possible P. aethiopicus variant

32
Q

Paranthropus robustus - temporal range, holotype, sites

A

2.0-1.5mya using biochronology

TM 1517 cranium, Kromdraai, South Africa

Sites:
Swartkrans
Kromdraai
Drimolen
Gondolin
33
Q

Paranthropus robustus and Paranthropus boisei shared traits

A

Sagittal crest
530cc
Dish shaped flat face
Small canine
Large postcanine teeth (larger in P. boisei)
Large and anteriorly placed zygomatic arches

34
Q

GDA-2

A

The Gondolin molar

Paranthropus robustus (some researchers attribute it to P. boisei based on the large size and morphology)

35
Q

Teeth/dental microwear and diet

A

Insectivory - sharp crests for puncturing the outer skeleton of insects

Frugivory - low cusps for crushing soft fruits

Folivory - well developed shearing crests for cutting tough leafy material into small pieces

Tough leaf eaters = lots of striations

Hard seed eaters = lots of pits

36
Q

Carbon isotopes and diets

A

Plants use different photosynthetic pathways
C4 - grasses and sedges
C3 - most other plants

C4 and C3 have different C13/C12 ratios which get incorporated into animal tissues

Measure the ratio in bones and teeth to determine what a hominin ate

37
Q

Issues with dietary isotopes

A

For carbon, does not necessarily distinguish between eating C3/C4 plants themselves or eating the animals that feed on the plants
R
Records diet when the tissues were formed e.g. human first molar = diet between 1-3 years

38
Q

Phytoliths

A

Phytoliths in dental calculus and plaque suggest consumption of fruit, leaves, bark, C3 grasses and sedges.

Au. sediba - Diet different to contemporary hominins

39
Q

Megadontia

A

All australopithecines have megadontia -> larger teeth for their body sizes than do either humans or other apes.

P. boisei has the largest teeth for its body size.

40
Q

Cranial features of australopithecines

A
  1. Small brain size with massive and prognathic faces
  2. The premaxillary region is convex in both transverse and sagittal profile
  3. No deep groove behind the brow ridge
  4. Primitive cranial features e.g. low, sloping forehead, massive projecting face, prominent brow ridges
  5. Reduced canines, but diastema still identifiable in some Au. afarensis specimens
  6. Shape of the maxillary arcade is primitive, and tooth rows converge posteriorly (U-shaped)
41
Q

Stone tool use

A

No stone tools have been found in direct association with Australopithecus

Hand morphology of Au. sediba suggests they may have had specialisation for precise handling needed for stone tool use - however they may not have used it.

Stone tools discovered in Lomekwi, Kenya, dated to 3.3mya, predate Homo. The identity of the first stone tool makers is unknown.

Palaeoanthropology (9 decks)

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