Paranthropus aethiopicus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paranthropus aethiopicusTemporal range: Pliocene
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P. aethiopicus
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| †Paranthropus aethiopicus (Olson, 1985)
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Paranthropus aethiopicus was an ancient human relative that is now extinct. It belonged to a group called hominids, which includes humans and our closest ancestors. Scientists found the first fossil of this species in 1985. It was discovered near Lake Turkana in Kenya, Africa.
One very famous fossil is known as the "Black Skull." Its scientific name is KNM WT 17000. It got its nickname because the bone is dark. This dark color comes from high levels of a mineral called manganese in the soil where it was found. This skull is one of the oldest examples of a group called "robust australopithecines." These were early human relatives with very strong features. The "Black Skull" is about 2.5 million years old. It lived during a time called the Pliocene epoch.
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The "Black Skull" Discovery
The "Black Skull" (KNM WT 17000) is a very important fossil. It helped scientists learn more about early human ancestors. This skull shows features that are very old, even older than other similar species. Its discovery helped fill in gaps in the story of human evolution.
What Does "Robust Australopithecine" Mean?
Paranthropus aethiopicus is part of a group known as "robust australopithecines." The word "robust" means strong or sturdy. These early human relatives had very strong jaws and large teeth. They also had a special ridge on top of their skull. This ridge is called a sagittal crest. It was an anchor point for powerful chewing muscles. These features suggest they ate tough plant foods.
Where Did Paranthropus aethiopicus Live?
Fossils of Paranthropus aethiopicus have mainly been found in East Africa. The most important discoveries were made in Kenya and Ethiopia. These areas were likely their home millions of years ago. The environment back then was probably a mix of forests and grasslands.
When Did They Live?
Paranthropus aethiopicus lived about 2.7 to 2.3 million years ago. This period is part of the late Pliocene epoch. They lived before other well-known robust australopithecines. This makes them one of the earliest members of their group.
What Did They Eat?
Based on their strong jaws and large teeth, scientists believe Paranthropus aethiopicus ate a lot of tough plant material. This might have included nuts, seeds, roots, and hard fruits. Their powerful chewing muscles helped them break down these foods. They were likely able to eat a wide variety of plants. This would have helped them survive in different environments.
Images for kids
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Locations of P. aethiopicus discoveries
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Cast of the Peninj Mandible assigned to P. boisei, which is similar to KNM-WT 16005
See also
In Spanish: Paranthropus aethiopicus para niños
