Paranthropus robustus (or
Australopithecus robustus) was originally discovered in
Southern Africa in 1938. The development of
P. robustus, namely in
cranial features, seemed to be aimed in the direction of a "heavy-chewing complex". Because of the definitive traits that are associated with this robust line of
australopithecine,
anthropologist Robert Broom erected the genus
Paranthropus and placed this species into it.
Paranthropus robustus is generally dated to have lived between 2.0 and 1.2 million years ago. P. robustus had large sagittal crests, jaws, jaw muscles, and post-canine teeth that were adapted to serve in the dry environment that they lived in. Wiki
