“Australopithecus sediba” , found in South Africa in 2008, lacked the jaw and teeth needed to be with a regular diet of hard foods structure, according to a study published today in the journal “Nature”.
this research sheds light on the characteristics of this new species of hominid, which lived less two million years in woodlands and could be a link between the ape-man South Africa (Australopithecus africanus) and the first men.
After being discovered nearly nine years ago, a study in 2012 suggested that the “sediba” meaning in the South African language Sesotho “source”, feeding on leaves, fruit, bark and other plants.
However, this new research developed by an international group of experts and led by the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg (South Africa), disproves that theory after observing that their teeth and jaws were not adapted to this diet .
“most australopithecines had amazing adaptations in its jaws, teeth and faces that allow them to process hard foods to chew or break. Among other qualities, were able to bite effectively applying a large force, “says anthropologist David Strait, Washington University in St. Louis (EE. UU.).
one exception seems to be the “Australopithecus sediba” as his jaw structure prevented him from applying great pressure to bite or chew.
“If I had tried to bite as hard with their molar teeth, applying the maximum power of the jaw muscle had been dislocated jaw, “adds Justin Ledogar, the University of New England (Australia).
scientists have come to these conclusions developed, among others, testing biomechanical the skull of a “Australopithecus sediba” in a computer program.
This model analyzed the remains of two skeletons-a boy and a woman found in 2008 in a cave in the South African region Sterkfontein , 40 kilometers from Johannesburg declared cradle of humanity by the large number of fossils it contains.
the above tests, experts say, are similar to the test biomechanical used to measure the tensile strength of airplanes, cars and many other machines.
“These unexpected, but frankly fascinating discoveries are backed by meticulous study conducted by a group of scientists for more than a decade, with an experimental investigation of the mechanics of chewing designed to show the validity of the model computer-aided “he said Kristian Carlson from the University of Witwatersrand.
Although this work does not address the possibility that the “sediba” is a close link to the first humans, it does provide further evidence of the influence they had dietary changes hominid on the origin and evolution of our species.
human, remember, also have limitations on the force with which they can bite or crush, perhaps similar to those of the most primitive food, while others Australopithecus analyzed “did not have many limitations.”
“This means that some populations of Australopithecus evolved structures to strengthen their jaws, while others, including the ‘sediba’ evolved opposite direction “adds Ledogar. Editor EFE
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