What is Australopithecus?

Australopithecus means ‘southern ape’ and was originally developed for a species found in South Africa. This is the genus or group name and several closely related species now share this name.

How old is the Australopithecus afarensis?

‘Lucy’ Australopithecus afarensis skull Discovered: 1974 by Donald Johanson in Hadar, Ethiopia. Age: 3.2 million years old This relatively complete female skeleton is the most famous individual from this species, nicknamed ‘Lucy’ after the song ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds’ sung by The Beatles.

What are the characteristics of Australopithecus ramidus?

Australopithecus ramidus: Was 1.2 meters tall and the fossils show the foramen magnum that was large to indicate upright walking. The forelimbs were different from those of the earlier ape-like ancestors. They had teeth like humans. Australopithecus afarensis – ‘Lucy’ the famous fossil belonged to this species.

What came first homo or australopethicus?

Stages of evolution of humans began from him. After Dryopethicus and Ramapethicus came to the genus Australopethicus which preceded the genus Homo.

Australopithecus is a genus of extinct hominids containing at least eight species. The word “Australopithecus” means “Southern Ape” because they have all been found in Africa. Australopithecines are mainly noted for upright walking, and they lived from 4.2 million years ago (mya) to around 1.5 mya.

What is the most famous specimen of Australopithecus afarensis?

(The most famous specimen of A. afarensis is the famous “Lucy.”) A. africanus appeared on the scene a few hundred thousand years later; it was similar in most ways to its immediate ancestor, although slightly bigger and better adapted to a plains lifestyle.

Are there any australopithecines in Africa?

Map of the fossil sites of the early australopithecines in Africa. Australopithecus anamensis, A. afarensis, and A. africanus are among the most famous of the extinct hominins. A. africanus was once considered to be ancestral to the genus Homo (in particular Homo erectus).

Is Australopithecus africanus cast of Taung Child?

Australopithecus africanus Cast of Taung Child fossils. “ Australopithecus africanus – Cast of taung child ” by Didier Descouens is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Australopithecus africanus was the first fossil hominin discovered in Africa.