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Name: Delia Conidi
Hominin: homo rudolfensis
~KNM-ER 1470=male specimen of homo rudolfensis
~KNM-ER 1813= female specimen of homo rudolfensis
What can you tell me about the
finding of the skull?
Describe the physical characteristics of the
hominin skull found by archaelogists.
What did they eat?
What did they look like?
Questions
Find out how they
communicated with
each other? (extension)
Sources(fully
cited)
Reference 1
"Homo
rudolfensis."
Human
Evolution by
The
Smithsonian
Institution's
Human Origins
Program. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12
Apr. 2012.
<http://human
origins.si.edu/e
vidence/human
fossils/species/
homorudolfensis>.
Where did they live?
Eastern Africa (northern Kenya,
possibly northern Tanzania and
Malawi).
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When did they live?
About 1.9 million to 1.8 million
years ago.
When was it discovered?
In 1986 by Russian scientist V.P.
Alexeev.
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KNM-ER 1470 was originally
thought to belong to Homo habilis,
along with KNM-ER 1813.
While both skulls are about 1.9
million years old, KNM-ER 1740
had a large face and brain size
around 700 cc, while KNM-ER 1813
had a smaller face and brain
around 500 cc.
The explanation was that KNM-ER
1470 was a male, and the smaller
KNM-ER 1813 was a female in a
strongly sexually dimorphic*
species; however, the anatomy of
the two skulls is considerably
different.
*Sexually dimorphic: the observable
physical or biochemical difference between
males and females of the same species.
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KNM-1470’s tooth roots and sockets
imply the individual’s teeth were
large with broad molars, while KNM1813 had a small upper jaw with
smaller, more modern-like teeth.
KNM-1470 had a square upper jaw,
while KNM-1813’s was rounded.
KNM-1470’s browridge was slight,
while KNM-1813’s was strongly
developed and pronounced.
These anatomical differences
between KMN-ER 1470 and KNM-ER
1813 have caused many scientists
question whether the two
individuals were just different
genders of the same species or a
totally different species all together.
.
Height and Weight: UNKOWN
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Additional Information
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Reference 2
"Homo
rudolfensis Australian
Museum."
Australian
Museum nature, culture,
discover Australian
Museum. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 12
Apr. 2012.
<http://australi
anmuseum.net.
au/Homorudolfensis>.
Where did they live?
Fossils have been found in
Urhara, Malawi, and Lake
Turkana in Kenya.
When did they live?
2.4 to 1.8 million years

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relatively flat and long face
(although more recent
reconstructions debate this and
suggest the face was more
protruding))
small brow ridge
 lack of crests and heavy muscle
What the name means
Homo is a Latin word meaning
‘human’ or ‘man’. It is the same
genus or group name as the one
given to modern humans, which
indicates the close relationship
between this species and our
own. The species name
rudolfensis comes from the
location where the type
specimen KNM-ER 1470 was
found – Lake Turkana, East
Rudolph, Kenya.
markings that are found in
australopithecine skulls.
Limited studies
have been done on
the diet of this
species, but the
tooth shape and
comparisons to
other species
suggests plant
material and
probably meat
were eaten.
Brain: average size of about 750cc (larger
than Homo habilis specimens)
Body size and shape: general lack of
postcranial remains makes size assessment
difficult. The larger teeth and skulls
compared to Homo habilis suggest it may be
larger than this species.
Jaws and teeth: large molars and broader
lower molars than Homo habilis. Complex
crowns and roots.
Limbs: limb proportions unknown because
of lack of skeletal material. Assumed to be
bipedal but without the ability to move in a
fully human locomotion
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The Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis debate
Scientists often disagree about naming fossil
specimens. Scientific names may be changed following
new discoveries, different interpretations or new lines
of investigation. Homo habilis is a well-known but
poorly defined species and scientific opinions about
the attributed specimens vary widely. Two specimens
at the centre of the debate are KNM-ER 1470 and
KNM-ER 1813.
KNM-ER 1470 (discovered 1972)
• about 1.7 million years old
• large brain, about 750-800ml
• teeth not preserved; roots and sockets suggest they
were large, as in Australopithecus, with larger
molars than other Homo habilis specimens
• square upper jaw
• slightly developed brow ridge
• face large and flat and longer than KNM-ER 1813
(although this is now questioned)
KNM-ER 1813 (discovered 1973)
• about 1.7 million years old
• small brain, about 500ml
• small upper jaw with human-like teeth
• rounded upper jaw
• strongly developed brow ridge
• face small and not very flat
The differences between KNM-ER 1470 and KNM-ER
1813 can be interpreted in various ways.
~They are different sexes: other things being equal,
large bodied individuals have a bigger head and brain
than small individuals. KNM-ER 1813 may be a female
and KNM-ER 1470 may be a male of Homo habilis.
However, they do not differ from each other in the
sort of ways that males and females of modern apes
(including humans) differ from one another.
~They are different species: many scientists claim that
1813 and 1470 represent two species, or even two
genera. Suggestions include Australopithecus
africanus, Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis. The
discovery of a skull of Kenyanthropus platyops in
1999, and its similarity to KNM-ER 1470, has led some
to consider reclassifying KNM-ER 1470 into the
Kenyanthropus genus.
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Reference 3
"Homo
rudolfensis |
eFossils
Resources."
main | eFossils
Resources.
N.p., n.d. Web.
21 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.e
fossils.org/spec
ies/homorudolfensis>.
Geologic age range: 2.4 or 1.81.9 million years ago
appear very similar to Homo
habilis, such as a bell shaped brain
case, high forehead with no sulcus
behind the reduced suprortibal
torus, and reduced prognathism.
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However, H. rudolfensis has a long
face that is widest in the middle, a
larger brain (751 cc), and
presumably a larger body size. H.
rudolfensis retains many features
similar to Australopithecus
including a shallow palate,
prominent check bones, thick
dental enamel, large cheek teeth,
and post-orbital constriction of the
braincase.
Geographic radiation: East
Africa
Average cranial capacity: 752cc
Average stature: 160 cm (m);
150cm (f)
Average body mass: 60kg (m);
51kg (f)
Habitat: Wet grassland/lake
margin, open grasslands
First discovery: Koobi Fora by
Bernard Ngeneo; 1972
Summary

Homo rudolfensis lived 2.4 to 1.8
million years ago in Eastern
Africa.
In terms of the discovery of
homo rudolfensis different
sources gave me different
answers.
1. In 1986 by Russian scientist
V.P. Alexeev.
2. Koobi Fora by Bernard
Ngeneo; 1972
Average Height: 160 cm (male);
150cm (female)
Average Weight: 60kg (male);
51kg (female)
Habitat: Wet grassland/lake
margin, open grasslands
The data on the physical characteristics of
the hominin skull found by archaelogists
varied in the depth of information and the
observations made. Refence 2 was much
simpler than reference 1 & 3. Reference 1
& 3 quoted measurements and sizes whilst
reference 2 was much more succinct and
written in ordinary language. They each
varied in that different points were
brought up in each reference. For example
reference 1 was a comparision between
male and females and skull and brain size.
Whereas reference 3 discussed body size
and facial features. Reference 2 was the
simplest and quoted no facts, but rather
described the facial and body features of
the Homo rudolfensis.
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Limited studies
have been done on
the diet of this
species, but the
tooth shape and
comparisons to
other species
suggests plant
material and
probably meat
were eaten.
Once again reference 2 is much more
succinct and very simple to understand it
just covers the different parts of the Home
rudolfensis’ appearance. Reference 1 makes
comparisons and questions all aspects of the
archeological facts and variations. It is
unclear whether the 2 skeletons are of the
same species, but does conclude that in all
likelihood one is male and one is female.
This makes it very difficult to compare the
data. It seems that reference 1 is a scientific
paper and reference 2 is written to be
understood by a person without expert
scientific knowledge.
Unable to find any
information on the
communication of
homo rudolfensis.
n/a