KNM ER 732

 

Species: Paranthropus boisei
Age: 1.7 million years
Date of Discovery: 1970
Location: Koobi Fora, Kenya
Discovered by: Richard Leakey and H. Mutua

 

KNM ER 732: frontal view
KNM ER 732: 3/4 view
KNM ER 732: side view

 

This partial cranium of a female Paranthropus boisei has a reconstructed cranial capacity of 500cc. This value is nearly identical to the 510cc of KNM ER 406, and, morphologically, KNM ER 732 has many characteristic Parathropus boisei features. Most notable is the forward placed root of the zygomatic arch (cheekbone), resulting in a wide flat face. Yet the skull shows less robust facial features than ER 406. For example, note that the face overall is less massive than the presumed male ER 406. Also note the lack of a sagittal crest. From this researchers conclude that ER 732 represents a female of the Parathropus boisei species. Thus, KNM ER 732 provides clues as to the nature of sexual dimorphism in early human species.


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