>>A. africanus lived during a period of major climatic and ecological change in South Africa 2–3 million years ago.

Dr Joannes-Boyau said the species was already very bipedal and possessed some interesting traits not found in other fossils of other species.

“They are already changing their diet and they seem to be living in a different environment to other hominids that you find.<<

>>“They show a lot of features that hint that we are very, very closely related but the direct ancestry is still a mystery.”<<

>>A. africanus died out more than 2 million years ago but the secret to understanding what the species ate remains in their teeth.

Teeth are built through a process of layering, similar to the rings of a tree.

Each layer of enamel and dentine tissue contains chemical records of the key nutritional elements consumed — proving we are what we eat.

The end result was a microscopic geochemical map which told the story of the individual’s diet and health over time.<<

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/australopithecus-africanus-relied-on-breastfeeding-for-survival/11287920

PermeateFree said:

>>A. africanus lived during a period of major climatic and ecological change in South Africa 2–3 million years ago.

Dr Joannes-Boyau said the species was already very bipedal and possessed some interesting traits not found in other fossils of other species.

“They are already changing their diet and they seem to be living in a different environment to other hominids that you find.<<

>>“They show a lot of features that hint that we are very, very closely related but the direct ancestry is still a mystery.”<<

>>A. africanus died out more than 2 million years ago but the secret to understanding what the species ate remains in their teeth.

Teeth are built through a process of layering, similar to the rings of a tree.

Each layer of enamel and dentine tissue contains chemical records of the key nutritional elements consumed — proving we are what we eat.

The end result was a microscopic geochemical map which told the story of the individual’s diet and health over time.<<

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/australopithecus-africanus-relied-on-breastfeeding-for-survival/11287920

Thanks for this

PermeateFree said:

>>A. africanus lived during a period of major climatic and ecological change in South Africa 2–3 million years ago.

Dr Joannes-Boyau said the species was already very bipedal and possessed some interesting traits not found in other fossils of other species.

“They are already changing their diet and they seem to be living in a different environment to other hominids that you find.<<

>>“They show a lot of features that hint that we are very, very closely related but the direct ancestry is still a mystery.”<<

>>A. africanus died out more than 2 million years ago but the secret to understanding what the species ate remains in their teeth.

Teeth are built through a process of layering, similar to the rings of a tree.

Each layer of enamel and dentine tissue contains chemical records of the key nutritional elements consumed — proving we are what we eat.

The end result was a microscopic geochemical map which told the story of the individual’s diet and health over time.<<

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/australopithecus-africanus-relied-on-breastfeeding-for-survival/11287920

Australopithecus africanus = Taung Child, South Africa + Sterkfontein, South Africa.
Some anthropologists consider Australopithecus sediba to be a subspecies of Australopithecus africanus.

> Each layer of enamel and dentine tissue contains chemical records of the key nutritional elements consumed. The end result was a microscopic geochemical map which told the story of the individual’s diet and health over time.

> Orangutans have been known to breastfeed their young for up to eight years. A. africanus already had a short breastfeeding period of just 12 months, like modern humans.

Fascinating.