Did Australopithecus afarensis have a forehead?
Australopithecus afarensis had a very low forehead, a face that projected far forward (as viewed in profile), and a very prominent brow ridge. A. afarensis is the earliest species for which we have reliable brain and body size estimates, thanks to a rich fossil record for the species.
What is the significance of Australopithecus afarensis in terms of hominin evolution?
When this small-bodied, small-brained hominin was discovered, it proved that our early human relatives habitually walked on two legs. Its story began to take shape in late November 1974 in Ethiopia, with the discovery of the skeleton of a small female, nicknamed Lucy.
What makes Australopithecus afarensis a hominin?
Au. afarensis belongs to the genus Australopithecus, a group of small-bodied and small-brained early hominin species (human relatives) that were capable of upright walking but not well adapted for travelling long distances on the ground.
How big was the Australopithecus afarensis brain compared to a modern human?
afarensis had both ape and human characteristics: members of this species had apelike face proportions (a flat nose, a strongly projecting lower jaw) and braincase (with a small brain, usually less than 500 cubic centimeters — about 1/3 the size of a modern human brain), and long, strong arms with curved fingers …
Which ape-like character present in Australopithecus?
Australopithecus afarensis characteristics Au. afarensis possessed both ape-like and human-like characteristics. The top of its skull (the cranial vault) was slightly domed and its brain was comparable in size to a chimpanzee’s. Its face projected outwards, less so in females than in males.
What did the Australopithecus afarensis look like?
Au. afarensis had both ape and human characteristics: members of this species had apelike face proportions (a flat nose, a strongly projecting lower jaw) and braincase (with a small brain, usually less than 500 cubic centimeters — about 1/3 the size of a modern human brain), and long,…
How is the skull of an Australopithecus different from a chimpanzee?
This was small but still relatively large when compared with a modern chimpanzee’s brain. compared with the earlier species, Australopithecus afarensis, the skull showed some slightly more human-like features such as a smaller brow ridge and a slightly arched (rather than flat) forehead area.
How are australopithecines related to modern apes?
The exact relationships between these species are not well understood and doubtless many more are waiting to be discovered. The Australopithecus species, referred to as Australopithecines, had features that were both human-like and ape-like. Their brains were smaller and more in the range of the brains of modern apes.
What’s the difference between a male and female Australopithecus?
The difference between Au. afarensis males and females is similar to the latter. Model of a male Australopithecus afarensis in the Vienna Natural History Museum showing the ape-like long arms and the more human-like feet and upright stance © Wolfgang Sauber [ CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons