BOU-VP-12/130 is a partial cranium that includes its maxillary teeth. The specimen exhibits absolutely larger cheek teeth than Au. afarensis, but lacks many of the derived features seen in Paranthropus. Compared to Au. africanus and early Homo, BOU-VP-12/30 retains relatively primitive traits, although the upper third premolar is more derived in this specimen than in Au. afarensis or Au. africanus¹. The specimen’s lower face is relatively prognathic and exhibits highly procumbent incisors, and its dental arcade is U-shaped with dental rows slightly divergent¹. In addition, BOU-VP-12/30 exhibits a small and posteriorly-placed sagittal crest, and has a large canine and huge molars, which differentiates it from all other early hominins¹.

BOU-VP-12/130 is likely male, probably slightly smaller than Au. afarensis and P. boisei males.

1. Asfaw B, White T, Lovejoy O, Latimer B, Simpson S, Suwa G. 1999. Australopithecus garhi: A New Species of Early Hominid from Ethiopia. Science 284:629-635.
2. Johanson D and Edgar B. 2006. From Lucy to Language: Revised, Updated, and Expanded. New York: Simon and Schuster.