Australopithecus (from latin “australis” southern

and greek “pithekos” ape) is an extinct genus of

hominids.

The Australopithecus genus evolved in eastern

Africa around 4 million years ago before spreading

throughout the continent and eventually

becoming extinct 2 million years ago.

Places where different australopithecus

species have been found

Australopithecus played an important part in

human evolution, being the first of the hominins to

show presence of a gene that increased length

and ability of neurons in the brain.

One of the australopith species evolved into the

Homo genus in Africa around 2 million years ago.

Reconstruction of

an A. afarensis

The brains of the most species were 35% of the size

of an actual human brain. They usually stood

between 1,2 to 1,4 metres tall, being males larger

than females.

They were bipedal, which diferenced them from

previous primates, who were quadrupeds. This tells

us that bipedalism preceded large brains.

The study of fossil teeth shows that australopithecus

ate fruit, vegetables and tubers.

The first australopithecine discovered and

documented was a fossil of a three year old

Australopithecus africanus in Taung, South Africa, in

1924.

Cast of the Taung Child

Original skull of Mrs. Ples, a

female A. africanus