Question

Ardipithecus kadabba and Ardipithecus ramidus both lived in Ethiopia. However, Ardipithecus kadabba is ~800,000 years older than Ardipithecus ramidus. Knowing this, discuss the plesiomorphic and apomorphic aspects as well as environmental adaptations of these species to illustrate the classification of this genus.

Answer 1

Ardipithecus kadabba

Ardipithecus kadabba changed into bipedal (walked upright), probably comparable in frame and brain length to a present day chimpanzee, and had canines that resemble the ones in later hominins but that also venture past the enamel row. This early human species is only recognized within the fossil file by way of some publish-cranial bones and units of tooth. One bone from the massive toe has a huge, sturdy look, suggesting its use in bipedal push-off.

How They Survived:
Instead of eating normally fruit and soft leaves like chimpanzees, there is proof that Ardipithecus kadabba ate an expansion of fibrous ingredients.

How will we know they ate fibrous meals?

The returned enamel of Ardipithecus kadabba are large than a chimpanzee’s, but its front teeth are narrower. This proof shows this species did most of its chewing in the back of its mouth. This kind of chewing could focus on difficult-to-consume foods like fibrous nuts.

Evolutionary Tree Information:
Scientists firstly considered Ardipithecus kadabba to be a subspecies of the later Ardipithecus ramidus, then renamed as its very own wonderful species based totally on dental differences

Ardipithecus ramidus

Ardipithecus ramidus became first stated in 1994; in 2009, scientists introduced a partial skeleton, nicknamed ‘Ardi’. The foot bones on this skeleton imply a divergent massive toe mixed with a rigid foot – it is nevertheless uncertain what this means concerning bipedal conduct. The pelvis, reconstructed from a crushed specimen, is said to expose variations that integrate tree-hiking and bipedal activity. The discoverers argue that the ‘Ardi’ skeleton reflects a human-African ape common ancestor that changed into now not chimpanzee-like. A precise sample of dog teeth of this species suggests very little distinction in length between males and females in this species

How They Survived:

Ardipithecus ramidus individuals have been maximum probably omnivores, which means they enjoyed extra generalized diet of both flora, meat, and fruit. Ar. Ramidus did now not appear to eat hard, abrasive meals like nuts and tubers.

How can we recognize they had been omnivores?

The teeth on Ar. Ramidus teeth remains show it become neither very thick nor very skinny. If the enamel became thick, it'd imply Ar. Ramidus ate hard, abrasive foods. If the tooth changed into skinny, this would recommend Ar. Ramidus ate softer ingredients which includes fruit. Instead, A. Ramidus has an enamel thickness between a chimpanzee’s and later Australopithecus or Homo species, suggesting a combined weight-reduction plan. However, the wear pattern and incisor sizes imply Ar. Ramidus became no longer a specialised frugivore (fruit-eater). Ar. Ramidus probable additionally averted difficult ingredients, as they did not have the heavy chewing specializations of later Australopithecus species.

Evolutionary Tree Information:

Over 100 specimens of Ardipithecus ramidus had been recovered in Ethiopia. Even although it has some ape-like functions (as do many different early human species), it additionally has key human features which includes smaller diamond-shaped canines and some proof of upright taking walks. It may also have descended from an earlier species of Ardipithecus that has been determined within the same vicinity of Ethiopia, Ardipithecus kadabba.