Australopithecus (from Latin australis 'southern', and Ancient Greek pithekos 'ape') was a genus of early hominins that existed in Africa during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. It is widely accepted that the genus Homo (which includes modern humans) emerged within Australopithecus, as sister to Australopithecus sediba. Also the genera Paranthropus and Kenyanthropus emerged within Australopithecus. Australopithecus is a member of the subtribe Australopithecina, which sometimes also includes Ardipithecus, though the term "australopithecine" is sometimes used to refer only to members of Australopithecus. Species include A. garhi, A. africanus, A. sediba, A. afarensis, A. anamensis, A. bahrelghazali and A. deyiremeda. Debate exists as to whether some Australopithecus species should be reclassified into new genera, or if Paranthropus and Kenyanthropus are synonymous with Australopithecus, in part because of the taxonomic inconsistency.

The earliest known member of the genus, A. anamensis, existed in eastern Africa around 4.2 million years ago. Australopithecus fossils become more widely dispersed throughout eastern and southern Africa, before eventually becoming pseudo-extinct 1.9 million years ago (or 1.2 to 0.6 million years ago if Paranthropus is included).[1]

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A digital laser reconstruction of the Malapa site, South Africa c2009

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