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 Fossils are from East Turkana and Kenya - Classified in 1994 incorrectly as Australopithecus afarensis by Meave Leakey and associates

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)

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

Examples of Some Fossils

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

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

Example of Dentition of Australophithecus Anamensis

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

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

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