What did we learn from Turkana Boy?
The ‘Turkana Boy’ skeleton has allowed scientists to find out a lot of information about body size, body shape, and growth rates of Homo erectus. This skeleton is 40% complete, based on the principle that bones from one side of the body can tell what the same bone from the other side looked like even if it’s missing.
What was the significance of the Nariokotome boy?
The Nariokotome boy’s skeleton has been called the fossil find of the century. Because it was so complete, it revealed a great deal not only about the anatomy of his species, Homo erectus (sometimes called Homo ergaster), but also clues about their life history and even social structure.
What does Turkana Boy represent in terms of human evolutionary history?
Known as the Turkana Boy, it is the most complete skeleton of a fossil human ancestor ever found. Studies of how this individual walked and ran have largely been restricted to the skeleton’s legs and pelvis. However, for endurance running its breathing capabilities would have been relevant as well.
Why is the Turkana Boy important?
The paleontology project includes both field work and scientific research to better understand how the Koobi Fora area around Lake Turkana holds clues to the evolution of human beings. The KFRP has unearthed more than 10,000 hominid fossils. “Turkana Boy,” above, is the most complete early human skeleton ever found.
What is special about the Turkana Boy?
When did they find Turkana Boy?
1984
In 1984, the Leakey team found an almost-complete fossilized skeleton that was dated to about 1.5 million years ago. This was a Homo erectus and is famously known as “Turkana Boy.”
How old was Mrs Ples when she died?
He determined that it belonged to a middle-aged female of the species Plesianthropous transvaalensis (later scientists placed the skull in the species Australopithecus africanus). Known formally as Sts 5, the approximately 2.5-million-year-old skull is better known today as Mrs.
Where was the Turkana Boy found?
Reconstruction of Turkana Boy, a specimen of the hominin Homo ergaster. Also known as Nariokotome Boy, this specimen is catalogued as KNM-WT 15000. It consists of an almost complete fossil skeleton, and dates from around 1.5 million years ago. It was found in 1984 near Lake Turkana in Kenya.
What is the difference between Turkana Boy and modern humans?
As far as we can tell, the only difference between Turkana Boy and modern humans is some Neanderthal traits in the skull. We now know, however, that Neanderthals are simply another human variation within Homo: i.e., another people group.
What was Turkana Boy’s cranial capacity?
Turkana Boy’s cranial capacity was estimated as small as 700 cc by some, to as large as 900 cubic centimeters by others. It would probably have reached well over 900 to 1,100 cubic centimeters if he had grown into an adult.
What is the pathophysiology of Turkana Boy Syndrome?
For example, it was postulated that Turkana Boy suffered from some congenital disorder, either dwarfism or scoliosis because the rib bones appeared asymmetrical to the spine due to what appeared to be skeletal dysplasia. [8]