"The hypothesis of brucellosis in this australopith has important implications: This is the most ancient case of an infectious disease in a hominin and could also potentially be some of the oldest evidence for meat-eating," D'Anastasio said. According to Matt Sponheimer, an anthropologist at the University of Colorado in Boulder who specializes on the ecology of early human ancestors in Africa, the study is certainly far from establishing that any australopith regularly consumed meat. Yet the possibility of some animal food consumption in australopiths is not unexpected. "Our closest living relations, the chimpanzees, frequently consume animal foods. Given the omnivory of Homo sapiens and our closest living relatives, a similar penchant for animal products among our close fossil kin might be expected," Sponheimer told Discovery News. According to the anthropologist, far more important would be some indication of the kinds of animal foods consumed, when and why they were consumed, and the relative importance of these foods in their diet. "We are still a long way away from answering such questions. After all, it is hard enough to get most people to remember what they had for lunch yesterday, much less asking the same of fossils that are millions of years old," Sponheimer said. Related Links: 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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