Feb. 2, 2009 -- An early human who lived between two and three million years ago had teeth and jaws that functioned like a nutcracker, allowing the individual to bite through nutshells with ease, according to a new study. The finding may put Australopithecus africanus in a shell-chomping category with another human ancestor, Paranthropus boisei, dubbed "Nutracker Man" by scientists last year for having super-thick teeth. David Strait, lead author of a new study on the fossil, explained to Discovery News that "large nuts and seeds may have been foods that were eaten during times when other types of food were not available." "At those times, nuts and seeds may have been crucial to survival because if you couldn't eat them, then you'd either have to move to a new habitat or die," added Strait, an associate professor of anthropology and co-director of Human Biology at the University at Albany SUNY. Related Content: Get the Latest in Science and Tech News From Discovery Jennifer Viegas' Blog: Born Animal HowStuffWorks.com: Is the Human Brain Still Evolving? A. africanus has long puzzled scientists because of its massive jaws and teeth. Columns of bone positioned alongside the sides of its nose apparently buttressed the face and reduce stress while eating. Various theories for the features have been proposed, such as the possibility that the early human ate lots of food or needed to rip it apart. To resolve the mystery, Strait and his team input the skull features into a computer to create a testable model. For comparison, they also created a computer model for a toothy modern primate, the crab-eating macaque. The National Science Foundation and the European Union supported the study, which is published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers applied two sets of muscle forces on the models: a "normal" bite simulating what it's like to chomp into a piece of soft fruit and a "maximal" bite into the shell of a nut or seed. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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