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australopith
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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. Diagram showing front and side views of the pelvis in a chimpanzee, Australopithecus, and modern human, highlighting differences in iliac blade shape, hip joint orientation, and leg stance.
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australopith

fossil hominin
Also known as: australopithecine
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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.
hominid fossil sites A selection of locations in sub-Saharan Africa where hominid fossils have been found.

Australopithecus is a genus of extinct primates that lived between 4.4 million and 1.4 million years ago in Africa. These early hominins, meaning they are closely related to modern humans, possessed a mix of humanlike and apelike traits. They were bipedal, walking on two legs, but had small brains, similar to apes. Their canine teeth were smaller than those of apes, while their cheek teeth were larger than those of modern humans.1

The term "australopith" is used informally for members of this genus. Famous specimens include "Lucy," a well-preserved fossil skeleton found in Ethiopia. The fossil record of australopiths, though still relatively scarce, provides crucial insights into early human evolution, showing a diversification of species and adaptations that eventually led to the genus Homo.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. Australopithecus
  2. Australopithecus - Transition to Homo
  3. Homo sapiens - Origin
  4. Australopithecus - Quality of the fossil record

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