Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis considered a hominin?
Evolutionary Tree Information: The first early humans, or hominins, diverged from apes sometime between 6 and 7 million years ago in Africa. Sahelanthropus tchadensis has two defining human anatomical traits: 1) small canine teeth, and 2) walking upright on two legs instead of on four legs.
Is Sahelanthropus tchadensis a hominin?
Sahelanthropus tchadensis. Sahelanthropus tchadensis from the site of Toros-Menalla, Chad (Figure 1), discovered by the Mission Paléoanthropologique Franco-Tchadienne (Brunet et al. 2002), may be the oldest hominin recovered thus far.
What evidence is used to indicate that Sahelanthropus tchadensis may have been a hominin?
Although very primitive, the skull, jaw and teeth displayed some hominid-like traits. For instance, the species had a relatively flat face instead of a protruding muzzle like a chimp. And the tip of the canine tooth was worn down, as it is in humans.
What is the meaning of Sahelanthropus?
Sahelanthropus tchadensis is an extinct species of the Homininae (African apes) dated to about 7 million years ago, during the Miocene epoch. The species, and its genus Sahelanthropus, was announced in 2002, based mainly on a partial cranium, nicknamed Toumaï, discovered in northern Chad.
What is the cranial capacity of Sahelanthropus tchadensis?
The brain size of this erstwhile hominid was only about 350 cc, similar to that of a modern chimpanzee (human mean cranial capacity is 1350 cc). Moreover, the skull has the same general appearance as that of a chimpanzee.
Why is Sahelanthropus tchadensis important in understanding evolution?
tchadensis has numerous derived hominin features and is therefore the oldest known human ancestor after the split of the human line from that of the chimpanzees. If the remains are from a direct human ancestor, then the status of the australopithecine group as human ancestors is questioned.
Where did Sahelanthropus tchadensis or the Sahel man discovered?
The Sahelanthropus tchadensis specimen (see Figure 6.2) was discovered in 2001 at the site of Toros-Menalla, in the Djurab Desert of northern Chad, by Michel Brunet and associates.
In what ways are the remains of Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus primitive?
Sahelanthropus and Ardipithecus are considered primitive because the bodies are small and because the brain cases are small. Also, the teeth, brow ridges and facial structure are more ape than human.