Sahelanthropus tchadensis: cranium

National Museum of Natural History

Object Details

Discovered by
a team led by Michel Brunet
Is this an original object?
No
Age
Between 7 and 6 million years old
Summary
One of the first human traits, the small canine teeth in this male skull distinguished it from other apes. Most male primates have long canine teeth that they use to threaten and harm other males. There may have been less competition among Sahelanthropus tchadensis males, or perhaps males expressed aggression in other ways. This skull, nearly complete though flattened by distortion, is also known by its nickname, ‘Toumai,’ which means ‘hope of life’ in the local Dazaga language of Chad.
Date of discovery
2001
Original Object Identifier
TM 266-01-060-1
Original Object Holding Institution
Centre National d'Appui à la Recherche/National Center of Research Support (Chad)
Location of Discovery
Toros-Menalla, Chad
Site
Toros-Menalla, Chad
Species
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
Record ID
dpo_3d_200071
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
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