Ardi

Ardi’s skeleton was found in the Afar Desert in Ethiopia. It had been buried underneath two layers of volcanic ashes, and had been compressed and buried in the mud by large animals like hippos.

Ardi lived 4.4 million years ago. His skeleton is the oldest skeleton found up to now.

Paleoanthropologists have found the remains of 36 Ardipithecus. They lived in a region of tropical forests.

Ardi’s Body

Ardi was a female. She weighed 110 lbs.

She was a biped. She walked on two legs and had great strength to climb trees with ease.

Her toes were longer and she used them to climb and grab the tree braches.

Males and females were the same size.

Ardipithecus had a small brain.

Paleonthropologists found:

cranium * arm bones

jaw * feet and leg bones

pelvis * hand and finger bones

Its Fossil Remains

Ardi’s Habitat

Ardi lived in an ecosystem shared with antelopes, hippos, monkeys, birds, porcupines, peacocks, insects and reptiles.

Ardi ate seeds, figs, fruits, nuts and insects.