Australopithecus garhi - No real surprise?
By Eugene M. McCarthy, Ph.D.
The skull differs from those of earlier australopithecines in certain features, particularly with respect the large size of its teeth, especially the molars and premolars. Such robust grinding equipment suggests a diet including tough, fibrous foods. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CRANIUM The cranial capacity of this hominid -- brain size was estimated on the basis of a partial reconstruction of the cranium -- was about 450 cc (Groves 1999), about the same as that of a chimpanzee. Skeletal remains found near the skull may be from the same individual. They exhibit apelike proportions with respect to the humeroulnar ratio, but the humerus/femur ratio is humanlike (Culotta 1999, Groves 1999). However, since the postcranial material cannot be definitely attributed to gahri, the height of this hominid is unknown. Nor is it known whether this hominid was bipedal. The fossils, dating to approximately 2.5 mya, are from the Hatayae Member of the Bouri Formation, in Ethiopia's Awash Valley (see map). They date to the period of the earliest known stone tools, and the remains of A. gahri are associated with antelope bones with marks that appear to be from stone tools. Primitive stone tools were found at the nearby, contemporaneous site of Gona, but not at Bouri itself (de Heinzelin et. al. 1999, Groves 1999, Semaw et al. 1997). This hominid predates the earliest known use of fire. Discovered by Y. Haile-Selassie in 1997, the validity of Australopithecus garhi as a type distinct from its contemporary, the much better characterized Australopithecus afarensis, is still controverial. Though its name, garhi, meaning "surprise," suggests it was a remarkable find, it will be far more surprising if Australopithecus garhi survives as a separate, recognized taxon. The fossil material on which it is based will, however, retain its significance even if it is not in the end judged distinct, since it comes from East Africa at a time when there are relatively few hominid fossils known.
Habitat: Savanna? Etymology: The name of this hominid is constructed from the Latin prefix australo-, the Greek suffix -pithecus, and the word garhi meaning "surprise" in the Afar language. Interesting facts and information about other ancient hominids:
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