Australopithecus Collection (#2)

Australopithecus africanus cranium (Sts 5)
Cast reconstruction of cranium belonging to Australopithecus africanus discovered at Sterkfontein by Dr Robert Broom and J.T. Robinson in April 1947

Australopithecus africanus
Model of an adult female Australopithecus africanus reconstructed from remains found at Sterkfontein, South Africa. Probably lived about 2.5 million years ago

Australopithecus africanus mandible (MLD 2)
Mandible and teeth of an adolescent male (of about 12 years) Australopithecus africanus discovered at Makapansgat by A.R. Hughes and S. Kitching in July 1948

Paranthropus robustus jaw bone
Lower jaws of Australopithecus robustus. A robustus lived between 1.8 and 1.5 million years ago in South Africa

Homo sapiens, Australopithecus, Neanderthal and Pan troglody
A display of models of hominids, including human, Australopithecus, Neanderthal and chimpanzee, on display in the Life Galleries at the Natural History Museum, London

Australopithecus africanus, the Taung child
A cast of a skull of Australopithecus africanus from Taung, Cape Province, South Africa. The original skull, thought to be of a child aged between 3-4 was discovered in 1924 by Raymond Dart

AUSTRALOPITHECUS BOISEI. Species of bipedal ape that lived about 2. 5 million years ago, discovered in 1985 by Dr
AUSTRALOPITHECUS BOISEI. Species of bipedal ape that lived about 2.5 million years ago, discovered in 1985 by Dr. Alan Walker on the western side of Lake Turkana, Kenya

Paranthropus boisei skull
Skull of Paranthropus boisei, formerly called Zinjanthropus boisei then Australopithecus boisei. P. boisei was an early hominid, estimated to have lived 2.6-1.2 million years ago

Endocranial casts of Australopithecus. An endocranial cast is a cast of the inside of the skull, which can form naturally when sediments fill an empty skull

Skulls of Tuang child and a chimpanzee
Tuang child (Australopithecus africanus) and chimpanzee skulls. The Tuang child fossil (left) was discovered in 1924 in Tuang, South Africa. The child, an example of A

Group of hominids, computer artwork
Group of hominids. Artwork of a group of hominids gathering in a clearing. Early hominid species such as Australopithecus sp. were upright walking ape-like creatures

Australopithecus robustus skull
Skull of Australopithecus robustus, front view. A. robustus was a bipedal hominin (human-like primate) that lived in Africa between 2.6

Tuang child skull
Tuang child (Australopithecus africanus)skull. The Tuang child fossil was discovered in 1924 in Tuang, South Africa. The child, an example of A

Skulls of A. africanus and a chimpanzee
Skulls of Australopithecus africanus and a chimpanzee. A. africanus (right) was a bipedal ape living in Africa 3-2 million years ago

Model of an early hominid (Australopithecus sp. )
Australopithecus anamensis. Model of an early female hominid, Australopithecus anamensis. While A. anamensis had an ape-like jaw and brain

Male hominid, computer artwork
Male hominid. Computer artwork of a male hominid. Prehistoric ape-like creatures such as Australopithecus sp. were able to walk on two legs with a fully upright posture

Australopithecus and chimpanzee teeth. Artwork comparing the teeth of an Australopithecus (left) and a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, right)

Australopithecus and chimpanzee hands
Australopithecus (left) and chimpanzee (right) hands, artwork. Both have opposable thumbs, but the chimpanzees thumb is less well-developed and not as strong

Little Foot skull. Artwork of the skull of the Australopithecus hominin fossil catalogued as Stw 573, and known colloquially as Little Foot. It has been dated to 2.2 to 3.3 million years ago

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"Australopithecus: Unveiling the Ancient Hominid Legacy" Step back in time and explore the fascinating world of Australopithecus, a genus of hominids that once roamed our planet millions of years ago. From their crania to footprints, these remarkable creatures have left behind an intriguing trail for us to decipher. One iconic specimen is Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-1), affectionately known as Lucy. This partial skeleton provided invaluable insights into our early ancestors' anatomy and locomotion. With her discovery, scientists gained a deeper understanding of how bipedalism evolved. It also shared the stage with another ancient human ancestor - Rhodesian Man. Together, they painted a vivid picture of our evolutionary journey, showcasing both similarities and differences between species. The Makapansgat Pebble further adds to this narrative by revealing early signs of symbolic thinking within Australopithecus communities. This small stone artifact suggests that these hominids possessed cognitive abilities beyond what was previously believed. Illustrations depicting the skulls of Australopithecus, Homo habilis, and Homo sapiens offer a visual representation of how our lineage has transformed over time. These comparisons highlight key anatomical changes that occurred during human evolution. Footprints preserved in volcanic ash provide yet another glimpse into the lives led by Australopithecus individuals like Lucy. These tracks reveal their walking patterns and social behaviors while leaving us awe-inspired at their existence so long ago. Mrs. Ples skull stands as one of South Africa's most significant fossil finds from this genus. Its discovery shed light on new aspects regarding brain size and cranial features among early hominids. Through meticulous reconstructions presented chronologically, we witness the gradual transformation from primitive forms to more advanced species within the Australopithecus lineage. Each step forward brings us closer to our modern human form.