Interesting Facts About Australopithecus

Australopithecus, our ancient human ancestor, has fascinated scientists since the genus was discovered.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about Australopithecus:

1. The first Australopithecus fossil was discovered in 1925 by Raymond Dart. It was a small child's skull found in Taung, South Africa. It is estimated to be 2-3 million years old. Australopithecus in general lived between 4.2 million and 1.9 million years ago 

2. Australopithecus have been found primarily in South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Chad, indicating a wide distribution across the continent. The name "Australopithecus" means "southern ape" in Latin and Greek, reflecting where the first fossils have been found

3. The Australopithecus genus includes several species, such as A. afarensis, A. africanus, A. anamensis, and A. garhi, each with unique characteristics

4. The most famous Australopithecus fossil is "Lucy," a female A. afarensis skeleton discovered in Ethiopia by Donald Johanson and Tom Gray. Dated at 3.2 million years old, Lucy is one of the most complete early human fossils ever found

5. Australopithecus had a mix of ape-like and human-like features. They had small brains (about 35% the size of a modern human brain) but human-like teeth and jaws. However, they were generally smaller than modern humans. And, the males were much larger than females – a trait known as sexual dimorphism.

6. Australopithecus had larger back teeth (molars) than modern apes, which may have been an adaptation to their diet. A. afarensis, primarily ate fruits and leaves, while A. anamensis included grasses and seeds.

7. Australopithecus were bipedal, meaning they could walk on two legs. How do we know this? Fossil footprints of Australopithecus were found at Laetoli, Tanzania. These footprints are 3.6-million-year-old, and look remarkably similar to modern humans.

8. Australopithecus had longer arms relative to their legs compared to modern humans, suggesting they may also have climbed trees.

9. Some Australopithecus species may have used stone tools. Stone tools dated to 2.6 million years ago have been found in Ethiopia, though it's unclear which species created them.

10. The genus Homo, to which modern humans belong, is believed to have evolved from an Australopithecus species sometime between 3 and 2 million years ago.

Robert Broom recovered the first specimen of a Australopithecus robustus in 1938 from the South African cave site of Kromdraai. You can join a dig at Kromdraai to work at this extraordinary site which is so important to the evolution of our species, Homo sapiens.