Scientists found a hip bone from a small human ancestor called Paranthropus robustus. This species lived a long time ago, around the same time as our direct ancestors. The bone shows that they walked upright, like us. This finding also shows that Paranthropus was smaller than we thought, which made it more vulnerable to large predators in its environment.
The name Paranthropus robustus was given in 1938. Fossils have been found mainly in one area in South Africa called the Cradle of Humankind. Most of these fossils are skulls and teeth, which tell us a lot about their brains but not about how they lived.
Finding the hip bone, thigh bone, and shinbone in Swartkrans Cave is important. These bones look like smaller versions of human bones. They prove that P. robustus walked on two legs instead of moving like an ape.
This species was small, about 1 meter tall and weighing 27 kilograms. It lived in an area where big animals, like hyenas, were also present. This made it hard for P. robustus to survive, even with tools.
This discovery changes our understanding of how they lived and reproduced.
Vocabulary List:
- Ancestor /ˈæn.ses.tər/ (noun): A person typically one more remote than a grandparent from whom one is descended.
- Vulnerable /ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl/ (adjective): Open to attack criticism or harm; susceptible to physical or emotional injury.
- Environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ (noun): The surroundings or conditions in which a person animal or plant lives or operates.
- Discovery /dɪsˈkʌv.ər.i/ (noun): The act of discovering or finding something; a new and significant finding.
- Understanding /ʌn.dərˈstæn.dɪŋ/ (noun): The ability to comprehend or grasp the nature of something; knowledge.
- Species /ˈspiː.ʃiz/ (noun): A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
How much do you know?
What is the name of the small human ancestor mentioned in the text?
Where were most of the Paranthropus robustus fossils found?
What does the discovery of the hip bone, thigh bone, and shinbone prove about Paranthropus robustus?
How tall was Paranthropus robustus according to the text?
Which area in South Africa is mentioned as the location of the main fossil findings?
What made Paranthropus robustus more vulnerable to large predators?
The fossils discovered were mainly skulls and teeth.
Paranthropus robustus lived at the same time as Neanderthals.
The study on Paranthropus robustus was published in the Journal of Human Evolution.
Tools were not effective in helping Paranthropus robustus survive in its environment.
Paranthropus robustus had a smaller brain compared to modern humans.
Paranthropus robustus was a predator in its environment.
The name Paranthropus robustus was given in .
Paranthropus robustus was approximately __________ meters tall.
Paranthropus robustus was approximately meters tall.
Finding the hip bone, thigh bone, and shinbone in Swartkrans Cave was significant in proving that Paranthropus robustus walked on legs.
Paranthropus robustus weighed around kilograms.
Being small and weighing 27 kilograms made Paranthropus robustus more vulnerable to large predators in its .
The discovery of the hip bone, thigh bone, and shinbone changed our understanding of how Paranthropus robustus .
