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Australopithecus anamensis

Australopithecus anamensis. Lauren Raynault Mr. Civita Science 3/24/09. Australopithecus anamsis (“anam” means lake in the Turkana language). FACTS: One of the oldest known hominid species found 4 million year old fossils

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Australopithecus anamensis

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  1. Australopithecus anamensis Lauren Raynault Mr. Civita Science 3/24/09

  2. Australopithecus anamsis (“anam” means lake in the Turkana language) • FACTS: • One of the oldest known hominid species found • 4 million year old fossils • Fossils are from East Turkana and Kenya- Classified in 1994 incorrectly as Australopithecus afarensis by Meave Leakey and associates

  3. Australopithecus anamsis (“anam” means lake in the Turkana language) FACTS (continued):-Reclassified in 1995 correctly as Australopithecus anamsis by Meave Leakey and associates - In 1965 the first fossils were found in the kanapoi region of East Lake Turkana (this applies to the name anamsis, where “anam” means lake)

  4. The First Fossils • A little about the first fossils: • Found by a Harvard Expedition- Not recognized as Australipithecus anamsis for 30 years • These fossils were discovered in the Kanapoi region of East Lake Turkana. • The fossil was a partial left humerus • In 1982 there was also a molar discovered • In the early 1990s more discoveries happened

  5. Examples of Some Fossils

  6. Anatomy of Australopithecus anamensis • - Primitive and advanced features • - Retained ape-like crania and dentition • Advanced post-crania • Hominid-like in form • Bipedal hominid

  7. Anatomy of Australopithecus anamensis • Dentition Specifically • Large canines • Parallel tooth rows • Asymmetrical premolars and molars • Robust bony shelf osteriro to incisors, and infero-posterirorly sloping mandibular symphysis • Primitive shallow plate • Thick enamel suggests diet of hard to chew foods • Thickened enamel is a trait of all later hominids • Size and shape of teeth were primitive to all later hominids

  8. Example of Dentition of Australophithecus Anamensis

  9. Various Comparisons • - Dentition is less apelike then Ardipithecus ramidus (another hominid species) • Tibia implies that Australopithecus anamensis was larger than Australopithecus africanus and Ardipithecus ramidus • Teeth and jaws similar to older fossils • Upper arm bone is human-like • Thicker layer of enamel than Ardipithecus ramidus Other Hominids include Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus afarensis, and Ardipithecus ramidus

  10. Additional Information about Australopithecus Anamensis • - Possesses advanced and primitive traits • Tibia suggests that it probably walked upright • Lived in woodland or bushland habitats such a s Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya • Lived 4.2 - 3.9 million years ago • More fossils discovered by Meave Leakey and Kenya National Museum hominid team • May be an earlier relative to the hominid Australopithecus afarensis, Lucy

  11. Works Cited http://www.archaeologyinfo.com/australopithecusanamensis.htm http://www.geocities.com/palaeoanthropology/Aanamensis.html http://www.modernhumanorigins.net/anamensis.html http://www.jqjacobs.net/anthro/paleo/anamensis.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/c.html http://africanhistory.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-australopithecus_anamensis.htm

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