Australopithecus afarensis
Quick Summary
Australopithecus afarensis was an early hominin species that lived between 3.8 and 2.9 million years ago in eastern Africa. The most famous fossil of this species is "Lucy," discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 and dated to 3.2 million years ago.123
Australopithecus afarensis possessed a mix of ape-like and human-like features. They had long arms, short legs, and a small brain, but their pelvis indicated they were bipedal, walking on two legs. Their cranial capacity was about one-third that of modern humans. Despite their ape-like facial structure and dental arch, their pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle bones showed similarities to modern humans, supporting a striding, bipedal gait.231
Fossils of Australopithecus afarensis have been found in Ethiopia, Chad, Kenya, and Tanzania. The species exhibited significant sexual dimorphism, with males being considerably larger than females. The discovery of footprints at Laetoli, Tanzania, dating to approximately 3.6 million years ago, provides further evidence of their bipedal locomotion.1
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AustralopithecusAustralopithecus afarensis and Au. garhiThe best-known member of Australopithecus is Au. afarensis, a species represented by more than 400 fossil specimens from virtually every region of the hominin skeleton. Dated to between about 3.8 and 2.9 mya, 90 percent of the fossils assigned to…
Read MoreThe best-known member of Australopithecus is Au. afarensis, a species represented by more than 400 fossil specimens from virtually every region of the hominin skeleton. Dated to between about 3.8 and 2.9 mya, 90 percent of the fossils assigned to…
Read More- AustralopithecusQuality of the fossil record
…1970s, particularly with regard to Au. afarensis, more abundant and associated skeletal remains began to be recovered from well-dated geological contexts. This trend has continued with the recovery of the Ar. ramidus skeleton, the H. ergaster skeleton from Lake Turkana, and significant 21st-century fossil finds in South Africa, namely those…
Read More…1970s, particularly with regard to Au. afarensis, more abundant and associated skeletal remains began to be recovered from well-dated geological contexts. This trend has continued with the recovery of the Ar. ramidus skeleton, the H. ergaster skeleton from Lake Turkana, and significant 21st-century fossil finds in South Africa, namely those…
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Homo sapiensOrigin…a hominin of the species Australopithecus afarensis from Hadar, Ethiopia. Ardi’s skeleton, which is more than 50 percent complete, dates to about 4.4 mya. The design of her pelvis and feet are suggestive of bipedal locomotion. However, other skeletal elements indicate that she spent much of her time clambering through…
Read More…a hominin of the species Australopithecus afarensis from Hadar, Ethiopia. Ardi’s skeleton, which is more than 50 percent complete, dates to about 4.4 mya. The design of her pelvis and feet are suggestive of bipedal locomotion. However, other skeletal elements indicate that she spent much of her time clambering through…
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human evolutionHominin habitats…remains, in northern Ethiopia, indicate Au. afarensis inhabited a mosaic of riverine forest, lowland woodland, savanna, and dry bushland. In northern Kenya Au. anamensis lived in dry open woodland or bushland with a gallery forest along a nearby river. In central Chad the northernmost and westernmost species,
Read More…remains, in northern Ethiopia, indicate Au. afarensis inhabited a mosaic of riverine forest, lowland woodland, savanna, and dry bushland. In northern Kenya Au. anamensis lived in dry open woodland or bushland with a gallery forest along a nearby river. In central Chad the northernmost and westernmost species,
Read More- human evolutionRefinements in hand structure
Au. afarensis is the earliest hominin species for which there are sufficient fossil hand bones to assess manipulatory capabilities. They were capable of gripping sticks and stones firmly for vigorous pounding and throwing, but they lacked a fully developed human power grip that would allow…
Read MoreAu. afarensis is the earliest hominin species for which there are sufficient fossil hand bones to assess manipulatory capabilities. They were capable of gripping sticks and stones firmly for vigorous pounding and throwing, but they lacked a fully developed human power grip that would allow…
Read More - human evolutionReduction in tooth size
habilis, with A. afarenis intermediate between A. anamensis and the younger species of Australopithecus. When compared with estimated body size, the pattern of increased tooth size over time is confirmed for Paranthropus.
Read Morehabilis, with A. afarenis intermediate between A. anamensis and the younger species of Australopithecus. When compared with estimated body size, the pattern of increased tooth size over time is confirmed for Paranthropus.
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Hadar…remains include partial skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis, a key species in human evolution. Major paleontological work began at Hadar in the early 1970s and was led by the American anthropologist Donald Johanson. His team discovered a 40-percent-complete female skeleton of A. afarensis that became popularly known as Lucy. Dated to…
Read More…remains include partial skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis, a key species in human evolution. Major paleontological work began at Hadar in the early 1970s and was led by the American anthropologist Donald Johanson. His team discovered a 40-percent-complete female skeleton of A. afarensis that became popularly known as Lucy. Dated to…
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Donald Johanson…most complete skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis known, in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974.
Read More…most complete skeletons of Australopithecus afarensis known, in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974.
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Laetoliand coworkers discovered fossils of Australopithecus afarensis at Laetoli in 1978, not far from where a group of hominin (of human lineage) fossils had been unearthed in 1938. The fossils found at Laetoli date to a period between 3.76 and 3.46 million years ago (mya). They come from at least…
Read Moreand coworkers discovered fossils of Australopithecus afarensis at Laetoli in 1978, not far from where a group of hominin (of human lineage) fossils had been unearthed in 1938. The fossils found at Laetoli date to a period between 3.76 and 3.46 million years ago (mya). They come from at least…
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Omo…Laetoli and are attributed to Australopithecus afarensis. Specimens of Paranthropus aethiopicus occur from 2.7 to 2.3 mya. By 2.2 mya some teeth with characteristics distinctive of P. boisei appear. Fossils of this species continue to be found in younger strata to 1.3 mya. An early species of Homo is represented…
Read More…Laetoli and are attributed to Australopithecus afarensis. Specimens of Paranthropus aethiopicus occur from 2.7 to 2.3 mya. By 2.2 mya some teeth with characteristics distinctive of P. boisei appear. Fossils of this species continue to be found in younger strata to 1.3 mya. An early species of Homo is represented…
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