Australoplithecines:
The fossils of Australopithecus were found at different places in Africa and outside Africa. It is a small brained bidep with a number of species within the same genus. Most of these variants are associated with savanna living.
Divided into two groups
I. Gracile:
It is considered to be an ancestor of Homo Small and gracile in terms of body weight, skeletal features like dentition, facial musculature and cranial capacity. Omnivore and probable tool maker. Feebly developed supra orbital ridges proves his diet It includes 1. A. Anamensis:
2. A. Afarensis:
3. A.Africanus (Southern ape of Africa)
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II. Robustus or Paranthropus
· Large and robust with features such as supra orbital ridges and sagittal crust · Larger dentition · considered to be extinct with changing climate It includes 1.A. Aethiopicus:
2.A. Robustus:
3.A. Boisei or Zizanthropus:
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Geographical disrtibution:
South Africa: | |
Gracile:
1.Taung – A.Africanus 2.Sterkfontein – Plesianthropus Transvellenis 3.Makapansgat – A.Prometheus |
Robust:
4.Kromdraai – A.Robustus 5.Swartkrans – Paranthropus Crassidens |
East Africa: 1.Omo(ethiopia) – both gracile and robustus | |
Gracile:
2. Hadar(Ethiopia) – A.Afarensis 3. Laetoli(Tanzania) – A.Afarensis |
Robusutus
4.Olduvai(Tanzania) – A.Boisei
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