About 1.5 million years ago, individuals of two different species in the human evolutionary lineage trudged along the shores of a muddy lake in northern Kenya, alongside the footprints of antelopes, horses, warthogs, giant storks, and other animals. I left a path to cross.
These fossilized footprints, which scientists have discovered in what is now called Koobi Fora, suggest that these two species, Paranthropus boisei and Homo erectus, shared the same landscape and literally crossed paths. provided the first evidence. This discovery raises interesting questions about the relationship between the two species and their competition for resources.
Paranthropus boisei is the more distantly related of the two to modern humans, living about 2.3 million to 1.2 million years ago and standing about 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm) tall. They had skulls adapted for large masticatory muscles, including a male gorilla-like calvaria and huge molars. Their feet had ape-like features, including the big toe.
Homo erectus was an early member of the evolutionary lineage of humans with a similar build to Homo sapiens, lived approximately 1.89 million to 110,000 years ago, and was approximately 4 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall ( 145-185 cm). Despite being smaller than our species, they had large eyebrow ridges and a larger brain than Paranthropus boisei.
Researchers discovered footprints near Lake Turkana in 2021. The researchers identified one long track consisting of 12 footprints, each approximately 10.25 inches (26 cm) long, which they believed belonged to an adult Paranthropus boisei based on its shape and method of locomotion.
The three isolated footprints were 8 to 9.25 inches (20.5 to 23.5 centimeters) long, similar to modern human footprints, and nearly perpendicular to the highway. Two of the specimens were complete enough to be considered Homo erectus, and were probably juveniles. The third was more difficult to assign with confidence.
Researchers believe the tracks were likely abandoned within hours or perhaps days, and the mud never dried or cracked, and they may even have been face-to-face with each other. said. There was no evidence of interaction.
“Fossil footprints give us a vivid picture of that moment in time 1.5 million years ago, when our various ancestors were walking past each other, walking in shallow water, and perhaps hunting and gathering. “It’s possible,” said director paleoanthropologist Louise Leakey. Koobi Fora Research Project member and co-author of the study published Thursday in the journal Science.
Researchers reanalyzed tracks previously discovered nearby and found that both species had existed together on fossilized mud surfaces for approximately 200,000 years.
Kevin Hatala, a paleoanthropologist at Chatham University in Pittsburgh and the study’s lead author, said: “They may have competed directly, but they were not in direct competition and both had access to the resources they needed on this shared landscape. It could have been done,” he said.
Differences in diet may have alleviated competition.
“Paranthropus boisei likely consumed a low-quality feed that required repeated chewing. Homo erectus was omnivorous, used tools to butcher carcasses, and included meat in its diet. “It’s very likely,” Leakey said.
The evolutionary lineages of humans and chimpanzees diverged in Africa about 7 million years ago. Species that belong to the human lineage are called hominins.
Footprints provide information about anatomy, locomotion, behavior, and environment that cannot be obtained from fossil skeletons or stone tools. The legs of these two species were anatomically different and they walked differently.
“The footprints that we believe are from Homo erectus are very modern human-like in shape, with a high arch of sediment in the center of the footprint, a stiff foot, and a push-out effect on the toes. “It shows a unique way of walking,” said the Harvard University evolutionist. Biologist and study co-author Neil Roach.
“Paranthropus’ footprints lack this high arch, indicating that they walk with a flatter foot. Additionally, Paranthropus’ footprints have a big toe that is set a little further apart than the other toes, indicating that they are more mobile. “Both of these aspects are more similar to how humans walk,” Roach said.
Paranthropus boisei disappeared from these footprints after hundreds of thousands of years, while Homo erectus flourished. Homo erectus, probably the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens, was the first human species to spread beyond Africa.
The site of the fossil was a resource-rich lake near the mouth of a river.
“The fact that two hominin species are consistently found in these landscapes, despite the presence of dangerous animals such as hippos and crocodiles, suggests that these environments were worth the risk for our ancestors to visit.” “This suggests that it was important enough that there was,” Roach said. .
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