1. Australopithecus anamensis
Lauren Raynault
Mr. Civita Science
3/24/09

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. Examples of Some Fossils

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

7. 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

8. Example of Dentition of Australophithecus Anamensis

9. 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

10. 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 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

11. Works Cited