Question

What does it mean thicker enamel and to the Pliocene ancestral/descendant relationships that Kenyanthroprzs has thicker enamel and a narrower second molar than does Ardipithecis?

Answer 1

Kenyanthroprzs has thicker enamel and a narrower second molar than Ardipthecis indicates that there is a well established diversity of the hominins which has occured during the Pliocene period. It also shows that Ardipthecis have evolved much earlier than the kenyanthropzs and are the ancestors of them. If there is a presence of thicker enamel in the fossil remnants, it also indicated that it is relatively newer because enamel corrodes with time; also because enamel is the outermost part of the teeth which always remains exposed.  So, it means that fossilization has taken place newly. The molar size also decreased from the ancestor to the descendants and the enamel thickness increased from the ancestors. So, it is clear that kenyanthroprzs are the descendants.