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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Photo: Early Human Ancestors May Have Had "Harem" Societies


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Several fossil skulls (top) and lower jawbones (bottom) of the early human ancestor Paranthropus robustus sit side by side for comparison.

New analysis of P. robustus fossils found in South Africa suggests that the ancient species lived in "harem" societies where a single dominant male mated with several females.

Skulls image © Science; jaws image courtesy Charles Lockwood