Paranthropus boisei
In the time period dating from 2.3 and 1.2 million years ago eastern Africa was populated by the early human species Paranthropus boisei. This species represents the most extreme version of the "robust" early humans in eastern Africa. Paranthropus boisei had a skull highly specialized for heavy chewing. They flourished in the drier savanna areas that existed in eastern Africa at the time. But by around 1.2 million years ago, Paranthropus boisei disappears from the fossil record. With a major change in Earth's climate, which involved larger, irregular fluctuation, adaptability may have been critical to survival as old resources dwindled or disappeared. The highly specialized Paranthropus boisei might not have been able to effect such adaptability in the face of change.
