Chapter 16, Problem 19A

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The debate regarding the classification of Paranthropus.

Introduction:

Scientists have discovered many hominin fossils. Some defy characterization and have led to new genus designations. Many hominins followed a mosaic pattern of evolution; that is different body parts evolved at different rates. There are many species of australopithecines like A.afarensis , A.africanus , A. garhi , A. bosei and A. robustus; some robust and some slenderspecies.

Answer to Problem 19A

A. bosei and A. robustusare two species of australopithecine which differed from other species of australopithecines because of their different size and muscular jaws. So there was confusion regarding their classification. Some considered them to belong to genus australopithecine while others preferred to place them in new genus Paranthropus.

Explanation of Solution

The two species of australopithecines; A. bosei and A. robustus, are quite different from the smaller and slender forms of australopithecines. There is confusion about where these two species fit in the classification of hominins. Traditionally they are considered to be robust forms of australopithecines. But some scientists prefer to put them in a different genus called Paranthropus because of their different size and muscular jaws.

Paranthropoidswhichlived between 2 and 1.2 mya were an offshoot of the human line that lived alongside human ancestors but were not directly related.