: Rounder cranium, less sloping face, and smaller teeth than earlier hominins.
The species Australopithecus africanus represents a landmark discovery in paleoanthropology, serving as the first evidence that humans originated in Africa. The "Southern Ape" of Africa australopithecus africanus
: Primarily found in South Africa, including the famous Sterkfontein Caves . : Rounder cranium, less sloping face, and smaller
: Slightly larger than A. afarensis , averaging 420–500 cc. : Rounder cranium
: First identified by Raymond Dart in 1924 via the "Taung Child" fossil. Physical Characteristics
: Latin Australo (southern), Greek pithecus (ape), and africanus (of Africa).