Australopithecus boisei with jaw skull replica, "zinjanthropus"
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100.00
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Replica of the Australopithecus Boisei (or Paranthropus boisei) Skull – "Zinjanthropus," Paranthropus boisei "OH 5" ("Nutcracker Man") Description – Materials & Construction: 3D-printed from durable plastic using a detailed digital copy of the famous OH 5 skull from Olduvai Gorge. Hand-painted to accurately replicate the color and texture of the original fossil, including all distinctive damage and features. Dimensions: Full-scale, life-sized replica: 181 mm (length) × 150 mm (width) × 185 mm (height) / 7.13" (length) × 5.91" (width) × 7.28" (height) Jaw: The lower jaw is a fixed, non-removable part of the model (single-piece construction). Significance in Anthropology:
Dating: ~1.75 million years ago
Discovered: 1959, Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)
Discoverer: Mary Leakey
Key Features:
The type specimen of the species (originally named Zinjanthropus boisei)
Brain capacity: ~530 cm³
The most extreme example of dietary specialization among hominids
A pivotal moment in paleoanthropological history
Distinctive Traits:
Unique masticatory adaptations:
Massive sagittal crest for anchoring chewing muscles
Largest molars among hominids (4 times larger than in humans)
Broad zygomatic arches forming a "dish-shaped" face
Cranial morphology:
Extremely thickened cranial bones
Pronounced supraorbital ridges
Strongly protruding facial structure
Evolutionary Significance:
A classic example of an evolutionary dead-end
Demonstrates extreme specialization for tough plant-based diets
A contemporary of early Homo species
Applications:
Anthropological study of dietary adaptations
Educational tool for hominid evolution
Comparative research with other australopithecines
