Homo rudolfensis


Homo rudolfensis

The beginnings of the Eastern African species: Homo rudolfensis came in 1993 when scientists found a mandible that was less robust and with smaller cheek teeth than is the case amongst australopithecines. placed under the classification of Homo, rudolfensis stood as a contemporary of Homo habilis. Homo rudolfensis had a flatter, broader face and broader postcanine teeth, with more complex crowns and roots, and thicker enamel. Rudolfensis is also recognized as having a larger cranium. All the non-australopithecine speciments found at Olduvai Gorge are known to be Homo habilis, whereas the ones found at Lake Turkana can be divided between Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis. Homo rudolfensis is dated to between 2.4 and 1.6 million years.

The Fossils:

From Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 819 Mandible ~By H. Mutua in 1971, at Ileret, Kenya

	KNM-ER 1470 Cranium ~Found in 1972 by B. Ngeneo, at Koobi Fora, Kenya ~Dated to 1.8 million years ~KNM-ER 1470 is the type specimen for Homo rudolfensis

	KNM-ER 1482 Mandible ~By H. Muluila in 1972, at Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 1483 (a-e) Mandible ~Found by W. Mangao in 1972, at Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 1590 Fragmentary Juvenile Cranium (a-q) ~By B. Ngeneo in 1972, at Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 1801 Partial Mandible ~By W. Mangao in 1973, at Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 1802 Mandible ~By J. M. Harris in 1973, at Koobi Fora, Kenya

	KNM-ER 3732 Cranium

	KNM-ER 3891 Cranial Fragments


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A. ramidus ~ A. anamensis ~ A. afarensis ~ A. africanus ~ A. gahri ~ A. bahrelghazali ~ P. boisei ~ P. aethiopicus ~ P. robustus ~ H. habilis ~ H. rudolfensis ~ H. erectus ~ H. ergaster ~ H. antecessor ~ H. heidelbergensis ~ H. neanderthalensis ~ H. sapiens
Southern Africa ~ Eastern Africa ~ North Central Africa ~ Asia ~ Europe/Northwestern Africa

Steven Heslip ~ 2001 ~ heslipst@msu.edu