Paranthropus boisei, an extinct hominin species that lived in East Africa approximately 2.3 to 1.2 million years ago, primarily had a diet that consisted of tough plant materials rather than meat. Evidence from fossilized dental remains suggests that this species had large molars and a robust jaw, adaptations that indicate a specialization in grinding down fibrous vegetation such as seeds and roots.
While it’s possible that Paranthropus boisei occasionally consumed small amounts of meat or scavenged when the opportunity arose, the predominant evidence leans heavily towards a mostly herbivorous diet. This conclusion is supported by isotopic analyses of their bones, which reveal a heavy reliance on C4 plants—common in grasslands—rather than the protein-rich fare typical of carnivores.
In summary, while Paranthropus boisei might have included some meat in their diet, it was not a significant part of what they ate. Their physiological adaptations and the ecological context in which they lived strongly imply a diet focused on plant materials.