australopithecine
Early African hominin
An australopithecine is a member of an extinct group of hominids that lived in Africa roughly two to four million years ago.
These bipedal apes are considered ancestors or close relatives of modern humans.
The term comes from the genus name *Australopithecus*, meaning "southern ape": The fossil record of australopithecines remains fragmentary.
As an adjective, it describes features characteristic of these early hominids: australopithecine skull fragments.
Genus of humanity
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- primateHigher mammal order member
- hominidBipedal primate family
- ArdipithecusEarliest known upright primate genus
genus · species · bipedal · ape · mammal · toolmaker · forager · omnivore
Walking on two limbs
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- speciationFormation of distinct species
divergence · common ancestor · lineage · transitional · mosaic · natural selection · arboreal · terrestrial
Having two feet
- skullHead's bone casing
- craniumSkull bone structure
- mandibleLower facial bone
- dentitionOral tooth arrangement
pelvis · femur · brow ridge · canine · molar · enamel · brain size · skeletal
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- Great Rift ValleyTectonic depression spanning continents
- EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
- KenyaEast African country, capital Nairobi
- TanzaniaDodoma-capital nation
South Africa · Chad · woodland · grassland · Pliocene · Pleistocene
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- datingPursuing romantic connections
specimen · skeleton · skull · mandible · femur · pelvis · fragmented · mineralization
A calendar year
- Afar TriangleTectonic triple junction region
- EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
- discoveryAct of finding something
- iconicWidely recognized, enduring
skeleton · female · museum · exhibit · completeness · paleoanthropology
Homo
Genus of humanity
Ardipithecus · genus · species · bipedal · ape · mammal · toolmaker · forager · omnivore · dentition
bipedalism
Walking on two limbs
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
speciation · divergence · common ancestor · lineage · transitional · mosaic · natural selection · arboreal · terrestrial · evolutionary tree
bipedal
Having two feet
dentition · pelvis · femur · brow ridge · canine · molar · enamel · brain size · skeletal · dimorphism
savanna
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- Great Rift ValleyTectonic depression spanning continents
- EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
- KenyaEast African country, capital Nairobi
Tanzania · South Africa · Chad · woodland · grassland · Pliocene · Pleistocene
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
dating · specimen · skeleton · skull · mandible · femur · pelvis · fragmented · mineralization · reconstruction
1974
A calendar year
- Afar TriangleTectonic triple junction region
- EthiopiaHorn of Africa nation
- discoveryAct of finding something
iconic · skeleton · female · museum · exhibit · completeness · paleoanthropology
australopithecineHomo sapiens
Scientific name for humans
modern human · Homo · human · Homo erectus · modern humans