Australopithecus was the first series of fossils discovered in various parts of Ethiopia, Africa;

Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern places. Numerous species of Australopithecus lived
between 4.4 – 4.1 million years ago, throughout the Pliocene period to Pleistocene epochs time scale.
They bore a combination of Human and Ape-like characteristics study and the closest known relative
of our genus Homo. They may be considered as the ancestors of human beings for they are bipedal
species that can walk in two legs upright but, the features evident is more ape like, as evolution is
ongoing. This fossil consist of a small brain and a short face with smaller canine teeth which is
similar to apes, however, compared to them, their cheek teeth is larger , yet they tend to stick in
eating soft things. Raymond Dart, an Australian Anatomist and Anthropologist is the first person
who found the first fossils of Australopithecus of a child’s skull at a lime quarry in Taung, South
Africa that provide evidence to this existence of pre-human ancestors of ours in 1924. Dart passed
the analysis of research in 1925 after he conduct studies that needed for further understanding. the
past.

Australopithecus africanus

In 1925,Raymond Dart coined the genus name Australopithecus Africanus, meaning “Southern Ape of
Africa” to describe a child which was the first early human skull ever discovered during a mining
operation in 1924 at Taung, South Africa. The juvenile was represented by its skull fragments, endocast
of its brain ,mandible, and face. It was the first fossil found in Africa and was considered a habitual
bipeds an they are anatomically similar to Australopithecus Afarensis because of their human-like and
ape-like features. They have a long, curved hand and finger bones; long arms relative to legs; an upward-
facing shoulder joints; and other climbing-related traits. However, compared to Australopithecus
afarensis, they had more human-like hands for they possessed our “strong” fingers, which they use to
enhance their grasping and pinching ability. Aside from having fully rounded upper and lower jaw like
modern humans, their teeth were smaller than Australopithecus Afarensis but larger than the teeth of
human beings nonetheless ,they have a great resemblance to ours more than apes. Australopithecus
Africanus most-likely lived in open forests were they hunted for food such as; fruits, roots, and seeds.

Height: Males: average 4 ft 6 in (138 cm); Females: average 3 ft 9 in (115 cm)

Weight: Males: average 90 lbs (41 kg); Females: average 66 lb (30 kg)

Fossils Found:

• Taung Child discovered in 1924, in Taung, South Africa

• STS 14 discovered in 1947, in Sterkfontein, South Africa

Australopithecus robustus

In 1938, Robert Broom discovered the first specimen of a Robust Australopithecus at the cave site of
Kromdraai ,South Africa and noted its hominin features as well as its chewing apparatus. They have huge
grinding teeth, heavily built jaw, and supporting structure. The sagittal crests, which are broad bone
ridges that run along the top of the skulls of most Australopithecus Robustus specimens, are another
indication of the species' strong chewing muscles, which were likely utilized to crush tough foods.
Similar fossils were discovered in Swartkrans, South Africa, between 1948 and 1952. This region turned
out to be one of the richest sources of early hominins. The limestone cave of Drimolen, South Africa, is a
third place where Paranthropus Robustus has been found. The name Paranthropus, which means "to
the side of humans," was chosen by Robert Broom to indicate his belief that this genus was not a direct
ancestor of subsequent hominins. It has long been thought of as a remote side branch on the fossil
record of humans.It was believed that they most-likely lived in woodland where they get their foods
such as; nuts, roots, and possibly insects.

Height: Male: average 4 ft. 4 in (132 cm); Female: 3 ft. 7 in (109 cm)

Weight: Male: average 92 lbs (41 kg); Female: average 71 lbs (32 kg)

Fossils Found:

• Eurydice discovered in 1994, in Drimolen Cave, South Africa

• TM 1517 discovered in 1938, in Kromdraai, South Africa

References;

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Australopithecus

https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/australopithecus-and-kin-145077614/

https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/the-history-of-our-tribe-hominini/chapter/
australopithecus-africanus/
https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/ species/australopithecus-africanus

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/f.html