1. australopithecines
Return to History 8 Human Origins Vocabulary
Australopithecus is a type of hominid that is completely wiped out. Australopithecus appeared to have lived in east Africa about 4 million years ago. Over the next two million years they evolved and spread throughout the continent until their genus became extinct around 2 million years ago. Australopithecus were also one of the first animals to use bipedal motion. However the latest Australopithecus had similar necks as modern humans, their heads were much larger and their brain only about a third as large as ours. They also had much larger molars and smaller front teeth to better suit their environment.
Source: http://anthro.palomar.edu/hominid/australo_2.htm
Image Source: http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1602/pcaustr.html
By Sam Finney