The Ardipithecus ramidus Skull and Its Implications for Hominid Origins

摘要

The key feature that distinguishes Homo sapiens from other primates is our unusually large brain, which allows us to communicate, make tools, plan, and modify our environment. Understanding how and when our cognitive ability evolved has been a special focus in anthropology and, more recently, genetics. Fossil hominid skulls provide direct evidence of skull evolution and information about diet, appearance, and behavior.