Australopithecus is a group of several early human species that lived circa 4 million to 2 million years ago. The first fossils were discovered in the modern-day country of South Africa, leading to the species’ scientific name, which translates to “southern ape”. Older Australopithecus fossils were later found in the modern-day countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania in eastern Africa.

Question

Australopithecus are among the oldest known hominids that were bipedal, or able to walk on two legs, which is often considered a defining characteristic of humans. However, their longer arms and curved fingers indicate that they could also climb trees. Scholars believe that these early humans used their bipedalism and climbing abilities to thrive during a period of climate change in Africa, in which the continent was covered by both forests and open grasslands.

Australopithecus were much shorter than modern humans, as the average male had a height around 4 feet 8 inches, while the average female was about 3 feet 7 inches. Their brain size was also smaller, as they were ⅓ the size of modern humans, or less than 500 cubic centimeters. Australopithecus survived on a mostly plant-based diet. This included leaves, seeds, roots, fruit, and nuts, along with insects and eggs.

The most famous example of an Australopithecus is Lucy, who was discovered by the anthropologist Donald Johanson in Hadar, Ethiopia in 1974. She was named after the Beatles song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.

Achievements and Characteristics:
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Answer 1

- Australopithecus were the earliest hominids to walk upright on two legs, marking a significant milestone in human evolution.
- They had both characteristics of arboreal climbers (long arms, curved fingers) and bipedal walkers (long legs, pelvis and foot structure), indicating their ability to move efficiently both on the ground and in trees.
- Australopithecus adapted to diverse environments, including both forested and open grassland areas, which likely contributed to their success and survival.
- Their plant-based diet suggests they were herbivorous and relied on foraging for fruits, seeds, leaves, and roots, with the addition of insects and eggs for protein.
- Australopithecus had a smaller brain size compared to modern humans, suggesting limited cognitive abilities.
- Lucy, the most famous Australopithecus specimen, provided crucial insights into early human evolution and is a well-known fossil in the scientific community.
- The presence of Australopithecus fossils in various locations across Africa indicates their wide distribution during their time period.

Answer 2

Homo habilis was a hominid species that lived circa 2.4 million to 1.4 million years ago. The first remains were discovered in the modern-day country of Tanzania, while additional fossils were later uncovered in eastern and southern Africa. The original fossil was found alongside numerous stone tools, which prompted archaeologist Louis Leakey to give the species its scientific name, which translates to “handy man”.However, archaeologists have discovered stone tools that date to circa 2.6 million years ago, which is long before the existence of Homo habilis.
The physical appearance of Homo habilis was a mixture of Australopithecus and future hominids more closely related to humans. The species had some features resembling Australopithecus, including their facial structure and relatively long arms. However, their brain size was larger than Australopithecus and about ½ the size of modern humans, or about 650 cubic centimeters. The average height of Homo habilis ranged from 3 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 5 inches. Their diet consisted of leaves and woody plants, but also included animal tissues. It is likely that Homo habilis used early types of stone tools, such as choppers and scrapers, to cut both roots and bones from smaller animals.

Achievements and Characteristics:
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Answer 3

- Homo habilis is considered one of the earliest species in the genus, which includes modern humans.
- They had a mixed physical appearance, with some traits similar to Australopithecus and others more closely related to species.
- The larger brain size of Homo habilis compared to Australopithecus suggests advancements in cognition and possibly increased tool-making abilities.
- The discovery of stone tools alongside Homo habilis fossils indicates their ability to create and use tools, which marked a significant technological advancement in human evolution.
- Their diet consisted of both plant-based foods and animal tissues, indicating a flexible and varied diet.
- Homo habilis likely used stone tools for various purposes, including cutting plants, scavenging carcasses, and potentially hunting or defending against predators.
- The existence of Homo habilis suggests a shift towards increased intelligence, tool use, and adaptability in early human ancestors.