The Human Family Tree - Paranthropus Group


The Paranthropus Group of human ancestor



Human ancestors started to diverge from primates as life on Earth progressed. Although Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution has been debatable since it was originally published, scientists have found an increasing amount of fossil evidence throughout time. Many religious organizations and other people still disagree with the notion that humans originated from a "lower" life type.

The human ancestors of the Paranthropus Group help connect the current human to previous human ancestors and provide us with a clear picture of how those ancestors behaved and developed. Even though three animals that belong to this group are already identified, there are still many unanswered questions about the progenitors of modern humans. The skull anatomy of any member of the Paranthropus Group is ideal for vigorous chewing.

See how the evolution of humans began by reading about the Paranthropus species listed below:

1. Paranthropus aethiopicus


Where Lived: Eastern Africa (Turkana basin of northern Kenya, southern Ethiopia)
When Lived: About 2.7 to 2.3 million years ago

OVERVIEW:
Paleoanthropologists still have many questions about Paranthropus aethiopicus because so few of this species' remains have been discovered. The 2.5 million-year-old "Black Skull," which was found in 1985, contributed to the identification of this species as the earliest robust australopithecine. Large megadont teeth, a strong jaw, and a well-developed sagittal crest on top of the skull in P. aethiopicus indicate the presence of enormous chewing muscles, with particular emphasis on the muscles that connected toward the back of the crest and exerted strong chewing forces on the front teeth.

2. Paranthropus robustus



Discovery Date: 1938
Where Lived: Southern Africa (South Africa)
When Lived: About 1.8 to 1.2 million years ago
Height: Males: average 3 ft 9 in (1.2 m) tall; Females: average just under 3 ft 3 in (1 m)
Weight: Males: average 119 lbs (54 kg); Females: average 88 lbs (40 kg)

OVERVIEW:

An example of a robust australopithecine is Paranthropus robustus, which possessed big megadont cheek teeth with strong enamel and specialized in chewing in the back of the jaw. P. robustus individuals are known for having wide, dish-shaped faces due to their huge zygomatic arches, or cheek bones, which permitted the passage of large chewing muscles to the jaw. These chewing muscles had a sizable surface to be fixed to the skull thanks to the massive sagittal crest. P. robustus developed these changes to enable it to break down fibrous, difficult meals. It is currently understood that the term "robust" only refers to the size of P. robustus' teeth and face, not its overall size.

3. Paranthropus boisei



Discovery Date: 1959
Where Lived: Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi)
When Lived: About 2.3 to 1.2 million years ago

Overview:

Paranthropus boisei, like other members of the Paranthropus genus, has a unique skull designed with modifications for vigorous chewing. The enormous jaw was moved up and down by the temporalis muscles, which are powerful chewing muscles that originate from the top and side of the braincase and are attached to the lower jaw by a strong sagittal crest on the midline of the top of the skull. The force was concentrated on the molars and premolars on the cheeks. Having exceptionally wide, dish-shaped cheekbones provided Paranthropus boisei a face that could accommodate larger jaw muscles and gigantic cheek teeth that were four times the size of those in modern humans. 

This species featured the largest cheek teeth of any known early human, cheek teeth that were even larger than those of Paranthropus robustus, a flatter, larger-brained cranium than Paranthropus ethiopicus, and the thickest dental enamel. In contrast to the genus Homo, this species' cranial capacity indicates a modest increase in brain volume (about 100 cc in 1 million years).

READ MORE ABOUT OTHER HUMAN ANCESTOR GROUPS:




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