Wo leben die Australopithecus?
3,8 Millionen Jahre altes Australopithecus-Fossil Sie gehörten zu den ältesten Vertretern der Australopithecinen (wörtlich: „südliche Affen“) und zu unseren direkten Vorfahren. Gelebt haben sie vor rund 4 Millionen Jahren in Ostafrika.
Warum ist der Australopithecus ausgestorben?
Die dadurch entstehende Nahrungskonkurrenz führte zum Aussterben der robusten Australopithecinen zu einer Zeit, als mit Homo erectus die Gattung Homo bereits ihren Siegeszug bis nach Asien und Europa angetreten hatte. “
Warum ist Lucy so besonders?
Vor 44 Jahren entdeckte der Forscher Don Johanson in Äthiopien die Knochen eines weiblichen Frühmenschen, genannt Lucy. Der Fund gab völlig neue Einblicke in die Frühzeit der Menschheit und beeinflusst die Wissenschaft bis heute.
How did the Australopithecus africanus get its name?
The name Australopithecus africanus literally means ’southern ape of Africa.‘ It was named for the fact that it lived in modern-day South Africa. It was the first of many hominid species to be discovered on the African continent.
Is there a third species of Australopithecus?
A third species of Australopithecus, A. robustus, was so much bigger than these other two species (with a bigger brain as well) that it’s now usually assigned to its own genus, Paranthropus.
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.
Is the Australopithecus afarensis part of the genus Paranthropus?
It is also considered to be a direct ancestor of later species of Australopithecus and all species in the Paranthropus genus. The names Praeanthropus africanus and Praeanthropus afarensis have been suggested as alternatives by researchers who believe this species does not belong in the genus Australopithecus.