Simulation of Australopithecus Africanus (VIDEO)

Arizona State University

Caption

Compressive stress in the cranium of Australopithecus africanus, an extinct early human, imposed by biting on the premolar teeth. Bright colors correspond to high stresses, and indicate that a bony pillar running alongside the opening of the nasal cavity acts as a strut that structurally reinforces the face against premolar loads.

Credit

Simulation courtesy of Arizona State University and the "Hominid Feeding Biomechanics" research team

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