What was Australopithecus? What are the species and characteristics of Australopithecus. Information about Australopithecus.
What was Australopithecus?
Australopithecus or australopithecus is called an extinct genus of hominid primates, within which up to seven different species have been recognized, which inhabited prehistoric Africa about 4.4 million years ago.
They are extremely important species for the study of human evolution, since they are the first bipedal primates, that is, to walk on their hind legs, instead of on all fours, as happened in species accustomed to life in trees. and as many primates still do today.
Origin of Australopithecus
The species that make up the genus Australopithecus arose in the south of the African continent (hence its name: austral, “southern” and pitekos, “ape”). Judging from the locations of their fossil finds, they lived in what is now the territory of Ethiopia, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
Australopithecus skull
This genus of primates already presents a huge difference in skull material with respect to the apes: it had the vertebral column directly inserted at the base of the skull, which confirms that it was designed to stand up on the hind limbs.
However, their brain was still very similar to that of apes, 35% smaller than modern humans (500 ml). In addition, their skulls were elongated, with a sunken chin and large jaws.
Australopithecus physical characteristics
Australopithecines had long, robust arms, similar to those of apes, indicating that they combined their movement on the lower extremities with climbing trees or climbing between branches.
They were small and slender, measuring between 1.20 and 1.40 meters tall. The sexual dimorphism in their species was quite pronounced, the male being able to reach 50% more in size than the female.
Australopithecus feeding
The jaws of these species had teeth with dense enamel like humans, but at the same time molars and canines similar to apes, which suggests that they could have been omnivores.
Probably their ability to stand upright would have allowed them to survive the movement on land long enough to feed on carrion, fallen fruit or other resources far from the trees.
Australopithecus habitat
It is probable that the Australopithecines lived in the oases of the African savannah, where there were still trees and more abundance of food, but not too much, otherwise the need to descend from the trees and learn to walk upright is not explained.
It is possible that the latter gave them the definitive advantage to be able to migrate, access other less populated food niches, or anticipate predators in the African grasslands, by raising their gaze above.
Australopithecus species
Seven species of Australopithecus are known, among which a significant margin of differentiation could occur. These species are:
- Australopithecus anamensis. They lived in the area of Kenya 4.2 and 3.9 million years ago and have broad molars and dense enamel.
- Australopithecus afarensis. Located between 3.9 and 2.7 million years old and were very similar to contemporary chimpanzees in their sound register.
- Australopithecus bahrelghazali. The only species in East Africa, they existed 4 and 3 million years ago in the regions of Chad.
- Australopithecus deyiremeda. They lived 3.3 and 3.4 million years ago and had small teeth and sturdy jaw bones.
- Australopithecus africanus. They had a more globular skull that reaches up to 450ml in capacity and its existence dates between 3 and 2.5 million years in the past.
- Australopithecus gharni. The indications of the lithic industry (stone tools) are attributed to them, 2.5 million years ago.
- Australopithecus sediba. They are the most recent species, barely 2 million years old, and are estimated to be the most likely ancestor of the line that led to humans.
Lucy (Australopithecus)
Lucy is the name of the most well-preserved Australopithecus afarensis fossil on record. They found it in Ethiopia, in November 1974, scientist Donald Johanson and his team were working in the region.
Some studies on the preserved 40% of its skeleton determined that it died when it fell from a tree of at least 12 meters, which confirms certain suspicions regarding the tendency of the species to return to the heights to take refuge from predators at night. Lucy was just 1.27 meters tall and weighed 27 kg. It is known that she had children, but not how many.
Australopithecus fossil beds
The main fossil deposits of this genus are in Africa, specifically in: Bahr-el-Gazal, South Sudan; Hadar and Middle Awash, Ethiopia; Lake Turkana, Kenya; Laetoli, Tanzania; Makanspansgat, Sterkfontein and Taung, South Africa.
Australopithecus extinction
The disappearance of the australopithecines from the planet took place around 2 million years ago. Probably due to competition with the genus Homo, whose first species were Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis.
Australopithecus in human evolution
The importance of australopithecus in the study of human evolution is key. It was the first bipedal primate, which inaugurated the possibility of walking on the lower limbs and thus freeing the upper limbs for a whole series of complex tasks.
In addition, one of the species of this genus gave way to the first species of the genus Homo, in which the much later Homo sapiens is inserted. Seen like this, the australopithecines would be our remote ancestors.
