Tag Archives: apelike

Discovering the Versatility of Paranthropus: The Adaptable Ape-Like Hominin

Posted on by
Reply

Illustration of Paranthropus: Early Hominins from 2.7 to 1.4 Million Years Ago

Credit: John Bavaro Fine Art/Science Photo Library

For the first time, remains of ancient humans, specifically Paranthropus, have been discovered in the Afar region of Ethiopia. This groundbreaking discovery indicates that Paranthropus lived across diverse ecosystems.

The remains of Paranthropus, dated between 2.7 and 1.4 million years ago, suggest a close relation to Homo, the genus that includes modern humans and Neanderthals. They are believed to have evolved from the early hominin known as Australopithecus.

Zeresenai Alemseged, a prominent researcher from the University of Chicago, has been excavating the Mille Logya site in the Afar Depression since 2012. This area is rich in human fossils, including remains of Homo and Australopithecus. Alemseged states, “Paranthropus was thought not to have reached this far north.”

On January 19, 2019, Alemseged’s local assistant discovered a piece of a toothless lower jawbone. “The size was the first feature that caught my attention,” Alemseged recalls. On the same day, the research team also found the crown of a lower left molar.

CT scans revealed distinctive Paranthropus characteristics, including the jawbone’s dimensions and the intricate structure of the tooth roots within. While the team couldn’t definitively classify the species, it is likely to be Paranthropus ethiopicus or Paranthropus boisei based on the location of the find.

Dating analyses indicate the jawbone to be approximately 2.6 million years old, making it one of the oldest known specimens of Paranthropus.

“There is no doubt that it belongs to Paranthropus,” asserts Carrie Mongul from Stony Brook University, who was not involved in the research. “The dating is unquestionable.”

Assembled Fragment of Paranthropus Mandible

Credit: Alemseged Research Group/University of Chicago

Previously, the northernmost Paranthropus specimen was a skull excavated from Konso in southern Ethiopia. This new specimen extends the range over 1,000 kilometers northward.

Paranthropus,” states Mongul.

Alemseged believes this specimen also illustrates the species’ adaptability. The large jaws and teeth of Paranthropus have been interpreted as indicators of a tough diet. Although the specifics of Mille Logya’s environment are unclear, it appears that Paranthropus thrived in more open habitats compared to the wooded areas frequented by earlier specimens.

“While they were specialized, we may have overemphasized their dietary limits,” concurs Alemseged. “Different Paranthropus populations appear to have adapted to various habitats, much like Homo and Australopithecus.”

Mongul noted existing evidence that Paranthropus thrived in its new environment by adapting to the expansion of grasslands across East Africa and even selecting gramineous food. The new Mille Logya specimen reinforces this observation of versatility.

Recent findings suggest that Paranthropus may have utilized and even crafted simple stone tools. In 2023, stone tools were found in Kenya, associated with Paranthropus ancestors. By 2025, newfound dexterity in the hands of Paranthropus was documented.

Alemseged concludes that since Australopithecus was capable of creating and using tools, and given the timeline, Paranthropus must have shared this capability stemming from their common ancestry with early chimpanzees.

Discovery Tour: Archeology and Paleontology

New Scientist frequently covers remarkable archaeological sites globally that reshape our understanding of species and the origins of civilization. Why not explore them too?

Topics:

  • Evolution of Humanity/
  • Ancient Humans

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Indicates Humans Evolved from Ape-Like Ancestors in Africa

Posted on by
Reply

A recent investigation conducted by paleoanthropologists from the United States and Canada has focused on the morphology of the hominid talus, a significant bone in the ankle that connects to the tibia and calcaneus of the foot. Ardipithecus ramidus, a hominid species that existed in eastern Africa approximately 4.4 million years ago, was at the center of this study. The researchers discovered that the fossil exhibits similarities to the talus of chimpanzees and gorillas, which are adapted for vertical climbing and terrestrial quadrupedal locomotion—a form of movement where animals traverse on all fours with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground, including the heel. Additionally, the authors confirmed the presence of derived features in the specimen that align with earlier suggestions for improved extrusion mechanisms in the legs of Ardipithecus ramidus.

Ardipithecus ramidus, a hominid that existed in Africa over 4 million years ago. Illustration by Arturo Asensio, from Quo.es.

Partial skeleton from 4.4 million years ago, Ardipithecus ramidus, affectionately dubbed “Aldi,” was uncovered in 1994.

This species featured an ape-sized brain and had grasping big toes adapted for climbing trees.

It walked on two legs, and its upper canine teeth were diamond-shaped as opposed to the V-shape commonly found in chimpanzees.

“Aldi represents one of the oldest and most complete skeletons discovered,” remarked Dr. Thomas (Cody) Plan, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Aldi is roughly a million years older than ‘Lucy’, another renowned early human ancestor, and signifies an early phase in human evolution.”

“Oneof the surprising aspects of this find was that, despite walking upright, Aldi retained many monkey-like characteristics, such as its grasping feet.”

“Great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas, possess forked big toes that facilitate gripping tree branches while climbing.”

“However, it also exhibited traits consistent with our lineage. Ardipithecus truly represents a transitional species.”

Initially, scientists speculated that Ardi’s locomotion resembled a common form rather than being typical of African apes, leading them to conclude that this early human ancestor was not particularly ape-like, which startled the paleoanthropology community.

“From their analysis, they inferred that contemporary African apes, like chimpanzees and gorillas, represent a dead end, or a kind of evolutionary cul-de-sac. Dead end underscores the evolutionary process rather than the point at which humans emerged,” stated Dr. Puran.

“Instead, they posited that Ardi offered evidence of a more generalized ancestry that was less akin to chimpanzees and gorillas.”

By examining the ankles of chimpanzees and gorillas, researchers can gain insights into their movement, especially regarding their vertical tree climbing techniques.

This crucial bone also sheds light on how early species transitioned to bipedalism.

For the recent study, Dr. Plan and his team compared Ardi’s ankles to those of great apes, monkeys, and early humans.

Their findings indicated that Ardi’s ankle is the only one within the primate fossil record that shares similarities with African apes.

These apes are recognized for their adaptations to vertical climbing and terrestrial quadrupedal locomotion, suggesting that Ardi might have utilized their feet similarly.

Alongside these primitive traits, Ardi’s talus exhibited signs of an enhanced foot extrusion mechanism.

This complexity points to a blend of climbing and locomotor behaviors in this early human species, which is crucial in understanding the evolution of bipedalism.

“This discovery is both controversial and aligns with earlier theories,” Mr. Pran noted.

“While there is no disagreement regarding the significance of Aldi’s find, many in the field would argue that the initial interpretation was likely flawed.”

“Thus, this paper represents a reevaluation of the original views that distanced Aldi from chimpanzees and gorillas.”

“It’s vital to understand that our paper does not claim that humans evolved from chimpanzees.”

“However, this study further supports the hypothesis that the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was likely very similar to today’s chimpanzees.”

For more details, refer to the paper published in the journal Communication Biology.

_____

TC Plan et al. 2025. Ardipithecus ramidus Ankle provides evidence of African ape-like vertical climbing in early humans. Commun. Biol. August 1454. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08711-7

Source: www.sci.news

How did Paranthropus, a peculiar, ape-like early hominin, manage to survive for so long?

Posted on by
Reply

P. Prairie/E. Daines/Science Photo Library

It’s not often that a respected professor embarks on an investigation into a scientific discovery by a 15-year-old, but in 1938 Robert Bloom made an exception. The British-born paleontologist was keenly aware that South Africa in the 1930s was gaining a reputation for extremely primitive-looking hominin fossils. So when he heard that elementary school student Gerd Terblanche had discovered a fragment of a human skull in a cave there, he immediately tracked him down. Bloom’s visit to the boy’s school was successful. The boy later recalled that he was walking around with children. “Probably the world’s four most precious teeth are in his pants pocket.”.

Within a few months, Bloom completed his analysis of the fossil. He determined that they were different from anything previously discovered; He gave ancient humans a new name. paranthropus.

However, although he was convinced that the remains were valuable, paranthropus He never became famous. Perhaps it was because it was a misfit. It resembled one of our small-brained ancestors, but existed on Earth long after other ape-like hominids were replaced by large-brained hominins. Even among paleoanthropologists, paranthropus They are depicted as a “forgotten” human race.

It probably won’t last very long. Spurred by the discovery of more fossils, researchers are finally starting to re-evaluate this addition to the evolutionary tree – and their research suggests it was one of the strangest. ing. paranthropus They may have been skilled tool makers, but they also may have grazed like cows and communicated with low calls like elephants. The question now is whether this research will bring us any closer to understanding how the last apemen survived in a world dominated by…

Source: www.newscientist.com