What are Australopithecus africanus known for?

What are Australopithecus africanus known for?

Australopithecus africanus was the first fossil hominin discovered in Africa. In 1924, Raymond Dart (see his biographical sketch this chapter) identified the face, mandible, and endocast as being that of a juvenile bipedal ape (see Figure 15.1).

Why was Australopithecus africanus unique?

africanus was a competent biped, albeit less efficient at walking than humans. A. africanus also had several upper body traits in common with arboreal non-human apes. This is variously interpreted as either evidence of a partially or fully arboreal lifestyle, or as a non-functional vestige from a more apelike ancestor.

What is unique about the Australopithecus?

Australopithecus afarensis is one of the longest-lived and best-known early human species—paleoanthropologists have uncovered remains from more than 300 individuals! They also had small canine teeth like all other early humans, and a body that stood on two legs and regularly walked upright.

What is the significant biological characteristics of Australopithecus anamensis?

Australopithecus anamensis individuals had thickly-built, long, narrow jaws with their side rows of teeth arranged in parallel lines. Their strong jaws combined with heavily enameled teeth suggest Au.

What is a derived feature of Australopithecus afarensis?

Derived features, such as thick enamel, intermediately sized molars, and reduced canines are also hallmarks of Au. afarensis1. The lower limbs clearly show this species was bipedal, while the upper limb morphology suggests Au. afarensis may have continued to practice some form of arboreality.

What is the difference between Australopithecus afarensis and Australopithecus africanus?

Australopithecus africanus was nearly identical in body and brain size to A. afarensis. Although the teeth and jaws of A. africanus were much larger than modern human teeth, they are still more similar to ours than to the teeth of apes.

What is a derived feature of Australopithecus afarensis quizlet?

large teeth, Thick ankle (high stress while walking) modern human knees (derived) Australopithecus Afarensis: derived and primitive traits. Long arms, curved fingers (for tree climbing), chimp sized brain, sexual dimorphism (primitive)

What is the meaning of africanus?

Africanus is Latin for “African”.

What are the common characteristics of australopithecines?

Australopithecines (plural of Australopithecus) were short and stocky with apelike features such as long arms, thick waistlines and chimpanzee-like faces. They had short and stocky apelike bodies, and brains closer in size to a chimpanzee than a modern human. Males were about 1.37 meters tall and females 1.14 meters.

When did Australopithecus afarensis?

between 3.7 and three million years ago
When did Australopithecus afarensis live? According to the fossils recovered to date, Au. afarensis lived between 3.7 and three million years ago. This means the species survived for at least 700,000 years, more than twice as long as our own species, Homo sapiens, has been around.