Paranthropus robustus is a small-brained, large-toothed hominin species endemic to southern Africa. Thought to be well understood, recent discoveries have shed new light on this species and where it fits within the Paranthropine clade. New evidence seems to contradict the well-accepted idea of P.robustus variation as explained by high sexual dimorphism and instead illustrates micro-evolutionary change within this lineage. DNH 155, a newly discovered male counterpart to the female specimen DNH 7, displays a suite of primitive and derived features unlike those seen in adult P.robustus specimens from other chronologically younger deposits. This talk will discuss these details as well as phylogenetic implications.

Presenter

Dr Angeline Leece is a Research Fellow at LaTrobe University. Dr Leece was awarded her PhD from La Trobe University in late 2020 and has worked with the Drimolen Palaeo- Archaeological Project for nine years. As part of this team, she has recently published the discovery of two new fossils in Science and Nature Ecology and Evolution.Dr Leece's research focuses on early hominin dental adaptions and related dietary behaviours, as well as the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of c. 2 million year old hominins.