JOURNAL ARTICLE

An ancient cousin to humans probably built tools with its huge hands: New fossils reveal Paranthropus had massive yet dexterous hands.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2025. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Gibbons, Ann 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the discovery of the first fossil hand of the hominin Paranthropus boisei, revealing its surprisingly robust yet dexterous anatomy. Researchers found that P. boisei had a hand structure similar to that of gorillas, suggesting it was capable of tool-making, a trait previously attributed mainly to the genus Homo. The fossils indicate that P. boisei was fully committed to upright walking and had strong hands that may have been used for activities such as stripping tough plants or manipulating tools. This discovery contributes to the understanding of the diverse capabilities of early hominins beyond the Homo genus. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2025/10, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Zoology
  • Publication Date:2025
  • Accession Number:188719672
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