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cranio-dental
small, posteriorly placed sagittal crest convex area below the nasal aperture (clivus) U-shaped dental archade w/ divergent dental rows canine larger than any other hominin anterior premolar is larger than any except for some specimens of P. boisei
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femur rel long compared to humerus similar to modern humans, absolutely larger postcanine dentition M3 reduced mesio- buccal enamel line projection & less occlusal asymmetry
Australopithecus garhi
Timespan: Region: Specimens: Discovered: 2.0 3.0 mya Afar, East Africa 9 Asfaw 1999 Holotype: Lineage: Environment: Diet: BOU-VP-12/130 (descndt of) A. afarensis lake-side (likely) omnivorous
similar to A. afarensis
forearm elongated strong subnasal facial prognathism differences from A. africanus reminiscent of A. afarensis
Differs from A. africanus & early Homo by its primitive frontal, facial, palatal, and subnasal regions ; frontal bone differs from A. africanus
B E H AV I O U R A L E V I D E N C E
isolated cores & flakes found in survey at Gona similar age to Gona & Hadar, but much less concetrated aseemblages lack of local raw materials evidences transport of stone &/or finished tools antelope bones found at ???? evidence modification (lithic cutmarks & hammerstone impacts)
Speculation/theories:
Post-cranial elements not definitevely classified, so diagnoses may not be legitimate Possible evidence of meat-eating & stone tool manufacture (association debatable) but would prove tools pre-dated encephalization Chronologically btwn A. afarensis & early Homo Sister-taxon to A. africanus
KEY SPECIMENS
BOU-VP-11/1L: proximal fragment of ulna (1998) BOU-VP-12/1A-G: proximal femur & associated forearm elements (1996) BOU-VP-12/130: cranial fragments (frontals, parietals, & maxilla w/ dentition) Cranial capacity est 450cc, likely male Found in Hatayae Member of Bouri Formation BOU-VP-12/87: cranial fragment, crested (1997) BOU-VP-17/1: mandible (1997) BOU-VP-35/1: humeral shaft (1998) GAM-VP-1/1: mandibular fragment w/ tooth roots & corpus contours (obv not Paranthropus) GAM-VP-1/2: parietal fragment genus unknown MAT-VP-1/1: distal left humerus genus unknown