Australopithecus

Australopithecus is a group of extinct primates closely related to modern human beings, they’re known from a series of fossils found at numerous sites in easter, north-central, and southern Africa. Multiple species of Australopithecus lived between 4.4 million to 1.4 million years ago. The most famous specimen of Australopithecus is “Lucy” which is a well preserved fossilized skeleton from Ethiopia which dates back to 3.2 mya. “The general term australopith (or australopithecine) is used informally to refer to members of the genus Australopithecus. Australopithecines include the genus Paranthropus (2.3–1.2 mya), which comprises three species of australopiths—collectively called the “robusts” because of their very large cheek teeth set in massive jaws.” (Britannica, E). The genus that contains evidence of the genus homo that included modern humans appears as early as 2.8 mya, some of the characteristics of homo resemble those of earlier Australopithecus. There are at least seven species generally recognized as part of this genus. These species include Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus bahrelghazali, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus boisei, Australopithecus robustus, and Australopithecus aethiopicus. However, some species are considered by some to be part of another genus, like A. bahrelghazali and A. anamensis since they have little evidence and patchy remains (Arias-Martorell, Potau, Bello-Hellegouarch, & Pérez-Pérez, 2015).