Australopithecus was an early hominin genus that evolved in eastern Africa around 4 million years ago. They stood between 1.2 to 1.4 meters tall and had brains that were about 35% the size of modern humans. Australopithecus was bipedal and ate fruits, vegetables, and tubers. One species of Australopithecus is believed to have evolved into the genus Homo around 2 million years ago in Africa, playing an important role in human evolution.

2. 

Australopithecus (from latin “australis” southern
and greek “pithekos” ape) is an extinct genus of
hominids.
The Australopithecus genus evolved in eastern
Africa around 4 million years ago before spreading
throughout
the
continent
and
eventually
becoming extinct 2 million years ago.
Places where different australopithecus
species have been found

3. Australopithecus played an important part in
human evolution, being the first of the hominins to
show presence of a gene that increased length
and ability of neurons in the brain.
 One of the australopith species evolved into the
Homo genus in Africa around 2 million years ago.

Reconstruction of
an A. afarensis

4. The brains of the most species were 35% of the size
of an actual human brain. They usually stood
between 1,2 to 1,4 metres tall, being males larger
than females.
 They were bipedal, which diferenced them from
previous primates, who were quadrupeds. This tells
us that bipedalism preceded large brains.
 The study of fossil teeth shows that australopithecus
ate fruit, vegetables and tubers.


5. 
The first australopithecine discovered and
documented was a fossil of a three year old
Australopithecus africanus in Taung, South Africa, in
1924.
Cast of the Taung Child
Original skull of Mrs. Ples, a
female A. africanus