Australopithecines

From EvoWiki

Australopithecines, meaning "southern ape", is a group of early hominids first discovered and named by Raymond Dart. The group is characterized by bipedal locomotion and relatively small cranial capacity - similar to that of apes. Australopithecines are variably classified into one, two or three different genera.

Specimens in this group have been dated from c. 4.4 million years ago (mya) - Australopithecus anamensis - to c. 1 mya - Australopithecus boisei. It is worth noting that some of the later members of this genus coexisted with early Homo species.

Species in this genus and their type specimens:

• Gracile:
  • Ardipithicus ramidus
  • Australopithecus anamensis -- KNM-KP 29281
  • Australopithecus afarensis -- LH 4, "Lucy", Laetoli footprints
  • Australopithecus africanus -- STS 14, Taung child, "Mrs. Plez" (STS 5)
  • Australopithecus garhi -- BOU-VP-12/130
• Robust (see below):
  • Paranthropus aethiopicus -- "Black skull" (KNM-WT 17000)
  • Paranthropus boisei -- "Zinj" (OH 5)
  • Paranthropus robustus -- TM 1517

These robust Australopithecines (aethiopicus, boisei, and robustus) are assigned to a seperate genus, Paranthropus by some, though many cite a lack of substantial difference in post-cranial morphology as justification for leaving the genus intact. The robust Australopithecines were vegetarian, rather than omnivorous, and therefore had larger teeth and a more projecting jaw, as well as other more pronounced facial features.

References

• Harker, D.W., 2004. Human Evolution. Bristol: UWE (Not published).