The diet of Australopithecus sediba.

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Paleoecology
• Archaeology

Background:

• Australopithecus sediba fossils from Malapa, South Africa, exhibit a mosaic of primitive and derived traits, linking them to Australopithecus and early Homo.
• Despite extensive study of Au. sediba's morphology, its feeding ecology remains largely uninvestigated.

Observation:

• This study presents the first plant phytolith analysis from early hominin dental calculus, alongside stable carbon isotope and dental microwear texture data for Au. sediba.
• New paleoenvironmental evidence was considered in conjunction with the dietary data.

Findings:

• The two examined Au. sediba individuals consumed an almost exclusive C3 diet, likely including harder foods.
• Their diet comprised both dicotyledons (tree leaves, fruits, wood, bark) and monocotyledons (grasses, sedges).
• Au. sediba preferred C3 foods over abundant C4 resources, similar to Ardipithecus ramidus and modern savanna chimpanzees.

Implications:

• The inferred consumption of C3 monocotyledons, wood, and bark expands the known dietary repertoire of early hominins.
• The dietary pattern of these Au. sediba individuals contrasts significantly with data from other regional and global hominins.
• This research provides novel insights into the paleoecology and adaptive strategies of early hominins in South Africa.