In: Biology
What are australopithecines, and what defines them?
The name means “southern ape."
An extinct genus of the hominid family that lived in Africa from about three to one million years ago.
they are defined as an extinct genus of small-brained,large-toothed bipedal hominids.
CHARACTERISTICS
The post-cranial remains of australopithecines show they were adapted to bipedal locomotion but did not walk identically to humans. They have a high brachial index (forearm/upper arm ratio) when compared to other hominins, and they exhibit greater sexual dimorphism than members of Homo but less so than gorilla or pongo. It is thought that they averaged heights of 1.2–1.5 metres (3.9–4.9 ft) and weighed between 30 and 55 kilograms (66 and 121 lb). The brain size may have been 350 ccto 600 cc. The postcanines (the teeth behind the canines) were relatively large, and had more enamel compared to contemporary apes and humans, whereas the incisors and canines were relatively small, and there was little difference between the males' and females' canines compared to modern apes.