Australopithecus (Paranthropus) africanus
Australopithecus (Paranthropus) africanus, 1938 Robert Broom
It is in 1938 that Robert Broom discovered in Kromdraai in South Africa a specimen more robust than the specimens discovered previously which was first of all identified with a new classification; Paranthropus robustus. Came then a multitude from discovered not only to the South but also to the East, which one classified in this taxon. With the number of discovered which increased one reclassified the whole of the found specimens; those of the East Africa being named A. boisei or A. aethiopicus and those of the south, the A. robustus.
The majority of the
researchers consider that the A. robustus to some extent replaced the A.
africanus in South Africa As its name indicates it, the robustus was more robust
than her predecessor; at least at the cranio-facial level and the level of teeth.
Its cranium is more massive and is equipped with a sagittal peak and nuchale
(occipital). Its cranial capacity is on average 530cc, but a pneumatisation of
the cranial bone reduced the weight of the larger head. Its face is shorter,
more massive with apparent former pillars, a thicker mandible. Its temporal pits
are widened following the development of the temporal muscle.
It is in 1938 that Robert Broom discovered in Kromdraai in South Africa a specimen more robust than the specimens discovered previously which was first of all identified with a new classification; Paranthropus robustus. Came then a multitude from discovered not only to the South but also to the East, which one classified in this taxon. With the number of discovered which increased one reclassified the whole of the found specimens; those of the East Africa being named A. boisei or A. aethiopicus and those of the south, the A. robustus.
A. africanus existed
between 3 and 2 million years ago. It is similar to afarensis, and was also
bipedal, but body size was slightly greater. Brain size may also have been
slightly larger, ranging between 420 and 500 cc. This is a little larger than
chimp brains (despite a similar body size), but still not advanced in the areas
necessary for speech. The back teeth were a little bigger than in afarensis.
Although the teeth and jaws of africanus are much larger than those of
humans, they are far more similar to human teeth than to those of apes (Johanson
and Edey 1981). The shape of the jaw is now fully parabolic, like that of humans,
and the size of the canine teeth is further reduced compared to afarensis.
