Which Australopithecus species may have given rise to the genus Homo?

The question of which Australopithecus species gave rise to the genus Homo remains a subject of ongoing debate among paleoanthropologists, as the fossil record is limited and interpretations vary.12

• Australopithecus afarensis: Some researchers suggest that A. afarensis may be the ancestor of the Homo lineage. The most ancient fossils attributed to Homo in eastern Africa exhibit features that link them to A. afarensis, such as similarities in the dental arch and jaw structure, suggesting a transition involving tooth reduction and brain expansion.12
• Australopithecus sediba: Following the discovery of A. sediba in South Africa, some paleoanthropologists speculated that it could be a direct ancestor of Homo due to its mosaic of humanlike and apelike characteristics, including structures in the skull, pelvis, and limbs that resemble those found in Homo erectus. However, other experts dispute this, arguing that A. sediba may have been a late-surviving relative of A. africanus that existed concurrently with the true direct ancestors of Homo.3

Ultimately, while these species provide critical insights, the exact evolutionary pathway remains uncertain due to the scarcity of high-quality fossils from the relevant time periods.12