What is the Difference Between Paranthropus and Australopithecus?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Paranthropus and Australopithecus are two genera of extinct hominins that belonged to the hominin group, which includes humans and their ancestors. They lived during different periods of human evolution and had distinct characteristics.
Paranthropus
Paranthropus is a genus that includes three species: Paranthropus boisei, Paranthropus robustus, and Paranthropus aethiopicus. They are collectively known as the 'robusts' due to their extremely large jaws and molar teeth. Some key features of Paranthropus species include:
- Large jaws and molar teeth
- Powerful muscles of mastication
- Large forwardly flared zygomatics with a large zygomatic arch
- Convergent maxillary third molars
Paranthropus species are considered to be more closely related to each other than to Australopithecus species. However, there is some debate among scientists about whether Paranthropus is a valid grouping composed of a common ancestor or if its species should be classified under Australopithecus.
Australopithecus
Australopithecus is a genus with several subdivisions, including Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus bahrelghazali, Australopithecus deyiremeda, Australopithecus garhi, and Australopithecus sediba. These species lived in Africa during the period of 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago.
Some key features of Australopithecus species include:
- Smaller braincase (cranium) compared to Paranthropus
- Lived in Africa during the period of 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago
The main difference between Paranthropus and Australopithecus is the size of their braincases (cranium). While Paranthropus had larger braincases, Australopithecus had smaller ones. Additionally, some of the robust species, such as Australopithecus aethiopicus, possessed some transitional or intermediate characteristics between the two genera.
Comparative Table: Paranthropus vs Australopithecus
Here is a table comparing the differences between Paranthropus and Australopithecus:
Feature | Paranthropus | Australopithecus |
---|---|---|
Braincase | Larger cranium | Smaller cranium |
Subdivisions | Paranthropus aethiopicus, Paranthropus robustus, Paranthropus boisei | Australopithecus aferensis, Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus bahrelghazali, Australopithecus deyiremeda, Australopithecus garhi, Australopithecus sediba |
Location | Africa, 2.7 million years ago | Africa, 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago |
Bipedalism | Yes | Yes |
Pelvis | Similar to A. afarensis, but with smaller hip joint | Different pelvis and hip structure |
Paranthropus and Australopithecus are both genera of hominins that lived in Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. They shared some similarities, such as bipedalism, but they also had distinct differences, such as the size of their braincases and subdivisions.
- Anthropoids vs Prosimians
- Apes vs Human
- Primates vs Humans
- Homo Sapiens vs Homo Erectus
- Homoerectus vs Homosapien
- Homo Habilis vs Homo Erectus
- Apes vs Gorillas
- Homosapien vs Neanderthal
- Monkey vs Chimpanzee
- Chimps vs Humans
- Neanderthals vs Humans
- Apes vs Monkeys
- Gorilla vs Chimpanzee
- Chimpanzees vs Bonobos
- Neanderthals vs Homo Sapiens (Modern Humans)
- Primates vs Monkeys
- Baboon vs Monkey
- Orangutan vs Gorilla
- Hominid vs Hominine