100th century BCE
Eastern and southern Africa
Australopithecus crassidens was a robust australopithecine known in the excerpt only from the Swartkrans locality in the Krugersdorp area of the Transvaal. It is presented as a possible sister species of Australopithecus boisei. More than 200 body parts, representing over seventy-five individuals, were recovered from the initial infilling of the Swartkrans cave system. The assemblage includes cranial fragments, mandibles, teeth, and limited postcranial remains, and its accumulation is interpreted as being strongly influenced by predators, especially leopards.
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The Story
Australopithecus crassidens is described as a robust species known thus far only from Swartkrans, in the Krugersdorp area of the Transvaal. Its morphology and robust anatomy led to comparison with Australopithecus boisei, and the excerpt presents it as a possible related or sister species. The taxon is therefore situated within the broader diversity of robust australopithecines in eastern and southern Africa.
The Swartkrans cave system had a complex history of cave formation, collapse, erosion, and sediment infilling. The outer cave contained Pink Breccia, the inner cave Brown Breccia, and an intermediate Orange Breccia. Australopithecus crassidens and a distinctive archaic vertebrate fauna are restricted to the initial infilling, designated Member 1, rather than the younger Member 2.
The australopithecine sample from this infilling comprises more than 200 body parts representing the remains of over seventy-five individuals. More than 40 percent were immature, while the mature individuals were not older than their mid-30s. Cranial and jaw elements are relatively common, whereas the postcranial skeleton is represented by only about a dozen pieces, including fragmentary axial, upper-limb, and lower-limb remains.
The associated fauna includes cercopithecoids, carnivores, bovids, pigs, equids, a sivathere, porcupines, and hyraxes. Bovids account for the largest reported component, and many are medium-sized or juvenile individuals. The condition of the bones and the distribution of body parts support the interpretation that predators, particularly Panthera pardus and perhaps sabre-toothed carnivores, were largely responsible for the accumulation.
100th century BCE
Eastern and southern Africa
Australopithecus crassidens was a robust australopithecine known in the excerpt only from the Swartkrans locality in the Krugersdorp area of the Transvaal. It is presented as a possible sister species of Australopithecus boisei. More than 200 body parts, representing over seventy-five individuals, were recovered from the initial infilling of the Swartkrans cave system. The assemblage includes cranial fragments, mandibles, teeth, and limited postcranial remains, and its accumulation is interpreted as being strongly influenced by predators, especially leopards.
Continue exploring
The Story
Australopithecus crassidens is described as a robust species known thus far only from Swartkrans, in the Krugersdorp area of the Transvaal. Its morphology and robust anatomy led to comparison with Australopithecus boisei, and the excerpt presents it as a possible related or sister species. The taxon is therefore situated within the broader diversity of robust australopithecines in eastern and southern Africa.
The Swartkrans cave system had a complex history of cave formation, collapse, erosion, and sediment infilling. The outer cave contained Pink Breccia, the inner cave Brown Breccia, and an intermediate Orange Breccia. Australopithecus crassidens and a distinctive archaic vertebrate fauna are restricted to the initial infilling, designated Member 1, rather than the younger Member 2.
The australopithecine sample from this infilling comprises more than 200 body parts representing the remains of over seventy-five individuals. More than 40 percent were immature, while the mature individuals were not older than their mid-30s. Cranial and jaw elements are relatively common, whereas the postcranial skeleton is represented by only about a dozen pieces, including fragmentary axial, upper-limb, and lower-limb remains.
The associated fauna includes cercopithecoids, carnivores, bovids, pigs, equids, a sivathere, porcupines, and hyraxes. Bovids account for the largest reported component, and many are medium-sized or juvenile individuals. The condition of the bones and the distribution of body parts support the interpretation that predators, particularly Panthera pardus and perhaps sabre-toothed carnivores, were largely responsible for the accumulation.
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