PARANTHROPUS

=Genus Paranthropus= [image:http://i.imgur.com/IYIi1Ew.png?1] The Paranthropus group existed between 2 and 1 million years ago and are considered an extinct offshoot of the early australopithecines. They are known particularly for their very robust skulls with many features associated with very large jaw muscles for processing course of fibrous plant material (vegetarian). Because of these features and especially their massive molars, they are sometimes referred to as '''megadonts''' (‘big teeth’). ==''Paranthropus robustus''== [image:http://i.imgur.com/7nv6Shr.png] ''P. robustus'' had a body similar to that of ''A. africanus'', but a larger and more robust skull and teeth. It existed between 2 and 1.5 million years ago. The massive face is flat or dished, with '''no forehead''' and '''large brow ridges'''. It has relatively small front teeth, but massive grinding teeth in a large lower jaw. Most specimens have '''sagittal crests'''. Its diet would have been mostly coarse, tough food that needed a lot of chewing. Bones excavated with ''robustus'' skeletons indicate that they may have been used as digging tools. ==''Paranthropus boisei''== [image:http://i.imgur.com/XYlqvpx.png] ''P. boisei'' existed between 2.1 and 1.1 million years ago. It was similar to ''robustus'' with a '''cranial capacity of 530cc''', but the face and cheek teeth (mandible and molars) were even more massive, some '''molars being up to 2 cm across'''. A few experts consider ''boisei'' and ''robustus'' to be variants of the same species. ''Paranthropus robustus'' and ''boisei'' are known as ''robust australopithecines'', because their skulls in particular are more heavily built. They have never been serious candidates for being direct human ancestors.