Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

Australopithecus had a variable but plant-based diet, according to an analysis of stable isotope data from seven hominin specimens dating back 3.5 million years from Sterkfontein in South Africa.

About Australopithecus

Feature	Details
Time Period	Lived between 4.4 million and 1.4 million years ago (Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs)
Geographical Distribution	Eastern, north-central, and southern Africa
Fossil Discovery	First fossils discovered in South Africa
Famous Specimen	"Lucy", a well-preserved fossil from Ethiopia, dated to 3.2 million years ago
Physical Features	Combination of human and ape-like features
Facial Features	Ape-like facial proportions (flat nose, protruding lower jaw)
Brain Size	Small brain (less than 500 cubic centimeters, about 1/3 the size of a modern human's brain)
Arms	Long, strong arms with curved fingers adapted for tree climbing
Teeth	Small canines, typical of early humans
Posture	Bipedal, regularly walked upright
Height	1.2-1.5 meters (roughly 3.9-4.9 feet)
Weight	30-50 kg (66-110 lbs)
Sexual Dimorphism	Males were nearly twice as large as females
Diet	Mostly plant-based (leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, nuts, insects)
Significance	Closest known relatives to modern humans (genus Homo)

Classification of the Species

The classification of the Australopithecus species includes the following:

Species	Time Period	Location	Notable Features/Specimens
Australopithecus anamensis	4.2 to 3.9 million years ago	Kenya and Ethiopia	Earliest known Australopithecus species.
Australopithecus afarensis	3.9 to 2.9 million years ago	Eastern Africa	Includes famous specimens like "Lucy" and "Selam."
Australopithecus africanus	3 to 2 million years ago	Southern Africa	The "Taung Child" was the first australopithecine discovered.
Australopithecus bahrelghazali	3.6 to 3 million years ago	Chad	Only Australopithecus species were discovered outside East and South Africa.
Australopithecus garhi	2.5 million years ago	Ethiopia	Possibly a direct ancestor of the Homo genus.
Australopithecus sediba	2 to 1.8 million years ago	South Africa	Shows a mix of Australopithecus and Homo traits, suggesting it could be a transitional species.