D I A G N O S T I C F E AT U R E S

flat (sagittally & transversally) anterior region vertical, bulbous symphysis large incisorform canines strongly bicuspid P3s modest talonid on P4 cingula on canines & premolars

similarities w/ A. afarensis

Australopithecus bahrelghazali
Timespan: Region: Specimens: Discovered: 3.0-3.5 mya Bahr el Ghazal, Chad 1 Brunet 1995 Holotype: Lineage: Environment: Diet: KT-12/H1 unknown unknown unknown

differs from A. afarensis

lingual surface of symphysis w/ subvertical planum alveolare small superior & inferior transerse tori both premolars w/ 3 distinct roots premolar occlusal enamel appears thin

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Brunet, M., et al (1995). The first austroplithecine 2,500 kilometres west of the Rift Valley (Chad), Nature Brunet, M. et al (1997) Australopithecus bahrelghazali, une nouvelle espce d'Hominid ancien de la rgion de Koro Toro (Tchad) Comptes rendus de l'Acadmie des sciences. Srie 2. Guy, F., et al (2008). Symphyseal shape variation in extant and fossil hominoids, and the symphysis of Australopithecus bahrelghazali. Journal of human evolution, 55(1), 37-47 Lebatard, A.. et al (2008) Cosmogenic nuclide dating of Sahelanthropus tchadensis and Australopithecus bahrelghazali: Mio-Pliocene hominids from Chad, PNAS Wood, B. & B. Richmond (2000), Human evolution: taxonomy and paleobiology, Journal of Anatomy 196: 19-60

Speculation/theories:
Data limited, some question legitimacy as taxon; KT-12/H1 may be A. afarensis Distance from all contemp species in East Africa is the main reason for classification