A New Genus of Hominins Found in Kenya :: Anthropology Essays Paleontology Papers

A New Genus of Hominins Found in Kenya Whenever finding new fossils, most people get excited in learning more about the mysterious history of life on earth. No one fossil finding may be more important than another, but when discovering a fossil that adds a new genus name to a species, it gets exciting. This is especially true when the fossil gives more insight to the evolution of humans. In Kenya, a new genus of hominins was found. The new genus was assigned because this hominin had a combination of derived facial and primitive neurocranial features. This hominin is guessed to be about 3.5 million years old. The findings lead the scientists to an early diet-driven adaptive radiation, which gives insight on the craniodental features, or the structure of the skull and mouth. The name of the species is Kentanthropus platyops (the Flat-Faced Man of Kenya). This fossil was found in a rugged desert-like site on the western shore of a lake in northern Kenya. This is by the Topernawi river drainages in Turkana district in northern Kenya. This fossil is known to be twice as old as Lucy, a famous Australopithecus afarensis, which is only about 1.8 million years old itself. The age of this fossil has been established because it was found in between layers of different aged soil. Eight meters below the Tulu Bor Tuff and 12 meters about the Lokochot Tuff is about 3.5 million years old, this is an area called Kataboi Member where the type of specimen is found. The paratype is from lower Lomekwi Member, seventenn meters above the Tulu Bor Tuff, estimating at 3.3 million years old. Kentanthropus platyops is estimated to be about 3.5 million years old itself. The age can also be estimated aroun 3.5 million years because hominin findings from Lomekwi, two mandibles and isolated molars have previously been found, which indicate the time period. The skull was found amongst a temporal bone that was well-preserved, two partial maxillae, some isolated teeth, and an extremely complete, yet distorted, cranium. The most astonishing thing about the skull is that it looks remarkably similar to that of a human skull. Note the platyops, platus coming from the Greek word that means flat, and opsis, meaning face. Thus making the name "Flat-Faced Man." Of course there are many differences than a human skull, but it is extremely similar to that of one.