Australopithecus: Quick Facts

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Photos and Videos

Side view illustration of Australopithecus afarensis, an early human ancestor, shown walking upright with a hairy body and ape-like facial features. A scale beside the figure marks 12 inches and 40 centimeters.

replica skull of Lucy

Thematic map of sub-Saharan Africa showing major sites where hominid fossils have been found, including locations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Chad, and South Africa. Different symbols indicate fossil discoveries of Australopithecus, Kenyanthropus, Ardipithecus, Orrorin, and Paranthropus. Major lakes and country borders are also marked for geographic context.

Chart showing locations and time ranges of hominin fossil deposits across sites in Ethiopia, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, with illustrations of Australopithecus and related hominin skulls placed along a timeline from about 6.5 to 1 million years ago.

Replica of a Kenyanthropus platyops skull

Laetoli footprints

reconstructed replica of the Taung skull

reconstructed replica of “Mrs. Ples,” an Australopithecus africanus skull

Paranthropus boisei skull

Where did human evolution begin?

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Topics

Australopithecus afarensis Paranthropus boisei Australopithecus africanus Paranthropus aethiopicus Australopithecus bahrelghazali Australopithecus anamensis Australopithecus garhi Paranthropus robustus Omo remains First Family dinosaur Homo erectus Neanderthal Homo habilis pterosaur Denisovan Cro-Magnon ichthyosaur Homo floresiensis Homo heidelbergensis

Key People

Louis S.B. Leakey

Louis Leakey

Kenyan archaeologist and anthropologist

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

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The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024

Animal Factoids

Lion (panthera leo)

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