Australopithecus boisei (OH5)

Australopithecus boisei (OH5)

Fossils assigned to this species are all East African, and span the period 2.4 to 1.3 million years before present (BP).

The type specimen was found in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge in 1959 by Mary and Louis Leakey.

Because of its hyper-robust features, it was first named Zinjanthropus ("Nutcracker Man"), but later became Australopithecus boisei. "Zinj", as this specimen is nicknamed, is well dated at 1.7 million years; [Boyd & Silk 1997] , pp 370-372.

In life, these animals must have been very robust in stature and about 52-60 kg in weight; see [Boyd & Silk 1997] , Box 11.3.

Their skulls are characterised by prominent sagittal crests and powerful jaws. Micro-toothwear studies suggest a diet of tough fibrous materials.