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Australopithecus boisei
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Australopithecus boisei
Australopithecus boisei. Artists impression of the skull and head of an Australopithecus boisei, a hominid that lived in Africa between about 2.3 to 1.3 million years ago. It had massive teeth, which are thought to have been an adaptation to a diet of tough plant foods. It is thought that its specialisation to such a diet led to its extinction after its environment changed. A. boisei was first discovered by Mary Leakey in the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, in 1959, and was named Zinjanthropus boisei. It is a robust australopithecine, and was heavier-built than the gracile australopithecines such as A. afarensis from which humans are thought to have evolved. This specimen is 1.8 million years old
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Media ID 6369317
© MAURICIO ANTON/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Ancestor Anthropological Anthropology Bones Early Human Early Man Evolutionary Biology Face Fossil Man Fossilised Hominid Hominids Human Evolution Palaeoanthropology Paleoanthropology Pilocene Pleistocene Pre Historic Pre History Primate Relative Australopithecus Boisei Palaeontology Robust Australopithecine
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This print showcases an artist's impression of the skull and head of Australopithecus boisei, a remarkable hominid that once roamed Africa between 2.3 to 1.3 million years ago. With its massive teeth, this ancient creature is believed to have adapted to a diet consisting mainly of tough plant foods. However, it is thought that this specialization ultimately led to their extinction when their environment underwent significant changes. Discovered by the renowned Mary Leakey in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge back in 1959, A. boisei was initially named Zinjanthropus boisei. As a robust australopithecine, it possessed a more substantial build compared to its gracile counterparts like A. afarensis, which scientists believe may have played a role in human evolution. The fossilized specimen captured in this image dates back approximately 1.8 million years, offering us invaluable insights into our ancestral past and shedding light on our biological roots as primates. With elements encompassing anthropology, paleontology, evolutionary biology, and early human history all intertwined within this single photograph print from Science Photo Library – not for commercial use – we are reminded of the incredible journey humanity has undertaken throughout time. It serves as a testament to our relentless pursuit of knowledge about ourselves and the world around us while honoring those who dedicated their lives to unearthing these precious relics from prehistory.
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