Paranthropus
Paranthropus robustus
2–1.2 Ma·800 ka·Discovered 1938
Description
Discovered by Robert Broom. In 2025 an articulated lower limb from Swartkrans was published, revealing locomotion details.
Notable facts
- Showed extreme sexual dimorphism
- Teeth show varied diet
- Articulated 2025 find revealed locomotion
- Coexisted with Homo ergaster
Key specimens
TM 1517
Type specimen
Cranial and dental remains found by Robert Broom in 1938 at Kromdraai.
SK 48
Female cranium
Found at Swartkrans — shows sexual dimorphism.
Anatomy
Robust face, large molars, smaller body than boisei.
Locomotion
Bipedal, recent 2025 lower-limb publication confirms human-like walking.
Diet
More varied than boisei — fruits, plants, possibly small animals.
Where to see it
Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria.
Media & references
Image ·
Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia article
Broom (1938). The Pleistocene anthropoid apes of South Africa. Nature.
doi: 10.1038/142377a0 ↗