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How did its diet (H. erectus/ergaster) differ from earlier hominins?

User Eagspoo
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Final answer:

H. erectus/Ergaster had a diet that differed from earlier hominins in terms of increased calorie intake, the use of fire and cooked meat, and a shift towards a softer diet due to smaller teeth and jaws.

Step-by-step explanation:

Diet of H. erectus/Ergaster compared to earlier hominins:

  1. The increase in brain size in H. erectus led to a greater need for calories, so they likely ate more food than earlier hominins.
  2. There is evidence that H. erectus used fire and ate cooked meat, which provided additional calories. This may have led to a shift towards a softer diet, resulting in smaller teeth and jaws over time.
  3. H. erectus had longer legs, indicating the ability to run and chase prey. Their hunting and use of tools gave them access to new food sources.
User Kyle Monti
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