Kenyanthropus

Kenyanthropus is a genus of extinct hominins discovered in Kenya. The type species, Kenyanthropus platyops, was first described in 2001 based on a fossil discovered in the Lake Turkana basin. The name Kenyanthropus means "Kenyan man," and platyops refers to its unusually flat face.

The most significant fossil attributed to Kenyanthropus is KNM-WT 40000, a partial skull of an adult male. This specimen exhibits a combination of primitive and derived traits. Its facial morphology, particularly the broad, flat upper face and small posterior teeth, is distinct from other known hominins of its time. The cranial capacity is estimated to be around 350-400 cubic centimeters, similar to that of Australopithecus afarensis.

Kenyanthropus platyops lived approximately 3.5 to 3.3 million years ago, during the Pliocene epoch. Its discovery challenged existing understandings of hominin evolution, particularly the notion of a single, linear lineage. Kenyanthropus co-existed with other hominin species, including Australopithecus, suggesting a more complex and diverse hominin landscape than previously thought.

The exact phylogenetic position of Kenyanthropus within the hominin family tree remains a subject of debate among paleoanthropologists. Some researchers consider it a distinct genus, while others suggest it might represent a variant or a species within the Australopithecus genus, perhaps related to Australopithecus anamensis or even Australopithecus deyiremeda. Further fossil discoveries are needed to clarify its evolutionary relationships and significance.