



Background
Date range: 1.8 - 1.2 million years ago
Homeland: Southern Africa
Diet: Ability to eat tough, fibrous foods; generalized diet including plants, fruits, insects, and some meat
Cranial Capacity: 520 cc
Habitat: Grasslands close to wet habitats like lakes and rivers
Distinguishing Features: large chewing muscles, evident by large zygomatic arches and prominent sagittal crest
This hominid species also has very strong chewing muscles that makes it a positive contender in the challenge as it could consume a wider variety of foods. Also, scientists believe that the species used old pieces of bone to dig up and eat termites, a good protein source.
Important fossils belonging to this contestant:
SK 46 - Mostly complete face and partial cranial side

Sk 48 - Female skull, less pronounced sagittal crest and wear from jaw muscles still present on skull

Works referenced:
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-robustus
http://australianmuseum.net.au/paranthropus-species
Photo sources:
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/paranthropus-boisei