This impressive, relatively complete skull is very dark in color and is therefore referred to as the "Black Skull". This find was made by Alan Walker, in 1985, near Nariokotome, on the west side of Lake Turkana. It is distinctive in its pronounced sagittal crest that runs along the top of the skull serving as an attachment for large chewing muscles. This species is a predecessor to Paranthropus boisei, but has a smaller brain and with a face that protrudes even further. This skull lacks teeth but its enormous tooth roots are visible in the palate, indicating that the teeth would have been of similar large size to the later forms. Paranthropus aethiopicus is the ancestor to Paranthropus boisei and lived about 2.5 million years ago, a time that is poorly represented at Lake Turkana. Such a complete find is therefore highly significant.
|
Paranthropus aethiopicus
KNMWT 17000 Age approx. 2.52 Million Years
Digital Capture: Photogrammetry Black Skull 0 Comments 
Forum Order: Primates Family: Hominidae Tribe: Hominini Genus: Paranthropus Species: aethiopicus Element: Cranium Locality: Nariokotome, West Turkana Year of Discovery: 1985 Other Fossils to View |
