Classifications
Australopithecus afarensis
Classification Tree
Ancestors
Australopithecus afarensis
species
Children
NHM - Australopithecus afarensis Skelett
Australopithecus afarensis is an extinct species of australopithecine which lived from about 3.9–2.9 million years ago (mya) in the Pliocene of East Africa. The first fossils were discovered in the 1930s, but major fossil finds would not take place until the 1970s. From 1972 to 1977, the International Afar Research Expedition—led by anthropologists Maurice Taieb, Donald Johanson, and Yves Coppens—unearthed several hundreds of hominin specimens in Hadar, Ethiopia, the most significant being the exceedingly well-preserved skeleton AL 288-1 ("Lucy") and the site AL 333 ("the First Family"). Beginning in 1974, Mary Leakey led an expedition into Laetoli, Tanzania, and notably recovered fossil trackways. In 1978, the species was first described, but this was followed by arguments for splitting the wealth of specimens into different species given the wide range of variation which had been attributed to sexual dimorphism (normal differences between males and females). A. afarensis probably descended from A. anamensis and is hypothesized to have given rise to Homo, though the latter is debated.[1]
3D Models, Videos and Images
Australopithecus afarensis cranium (AL 444-2)
Finding the Lucy Fossil — HHMI BioInteractive Video
Lucy the 3.2 Million Year Old Mother of Man | BBC Earth
How 'Lucy' Got Her Name
Source: How 'Lucy' Got Her Name
Palaeoanthropological Fieldwork in Hadar, Ethiopia (1974)
3D Animation of the Skull of the Dikika Child
Laetoli Footprints: Protecting Traces of Our Earliest Ancestors
Origin Stories: First Steps at Laetoli
BU researchers use new software to uncover ancient footprints at Laetoli
Reconstruction of the fossil skeleton of "Lucy" the Australopithecus afarensis
Replica of the remains of australopithecus afarensis called lucy or dinknesh, from hadar (afar), 3.2 million years ago 04 - Replica dei resti di australopithecus afarensis detto lucy o dinknesh, da hadar (afar), 3,2 milioni di anni fa 04
NHM - Australopithecus afarensis Skelett
Don.Johanson storey-image
Source: Don.Johanson storey-image
Australopithecus afarensis („Lucy") Rekonstruktion mit Mädchen
Resti di australopithecus afarensis detto selam, di tre anni circa, da dikika (afar), 3,3 milioni di anni fa
Test-pit L8 at Laetoli Site S
Source: Test-pit L8 at Laetoli Site S
Australopithecus afarensis footprint
Description
A. afarensis had a tall face, a delicate brow ridge, and prognathism (the jaw jutted outwards). The jawbone was quite robust, similar to that of gorillas. The living size of A. afarensis is debated, with arguments for and against marked size differences between males and females. Lucy measured perhaps 105 cm (3 ft 5 in) in height and 25–37 kg (55–82 lb), but she was rather small for her species. In contrast, a presumed male was estimated at 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) and 45 kg (99 lb). A perceived difference in male and female size may simply be sampling bias. The leg bones as well as the Laetoli fossil trackways suggest A. afarensis was a competent biped, though somewhat less efficient at walking than humans. The arm and shoulder bones have some similar aspects to those of orangutans and gorillas, which has variously been interpreted as either evidence of partial tree-dwelling (arboreality), or basal traits inherited from the chimpanzee–human last common ancestor with no adaptive functionality.[1]
Sources
This page was last edited on June 7, 2024 at 15:50:51 UTC