Australopithecus africanus lived between 3 and 2.3 million years ago mostly in South Africa although remains have been found else where. Fossil remains have been uncovered at many locations including Taung in South Africa, Sterkfontein in South Africa, Makapansgat in South Africa, and possibly at Lake Turkana in Kenya and Omo in Ethiopia.

The first Australopithecus africanus was discovered by Raymond Dart in 1925. The fossil itself was found in a limestone quarry at a site called Taung. It took dart many days to remove the fossil from the limestone in which it was incased, but once removed it revealed the face, braincase, and brain cast of a young primate. The fossil thus became known as "Taung Baby".

Australopithecus africanus has a cranial capacity of between 435cc and 530cc, and the average cranial capacity of 450cc. Males of the species are though to have possibly weighed up to 100 pounds. Females possibly weighed around 50 with a height around 3'6''. When compared to Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus is less prognathous with a more rounded jaw and larger back teeth and canines. The body of A. africanus when compared to A. afarensis was similar but possibly with longer arms and shorter legs. A. africanus has no sagital crest. Also, this species was capable of facultative bipedalism.

References:

Park, Michael A. Biological Anthropology 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill. New York, New York. 2005.

Price, Douglas T. and Gary M. Feinman. Images of the Past 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill. New York, New York. 2005

By:

Jared Langseth, 2005.