Second Australopithecus {Australopithecus africanus} [first found 1924] was gracile, weighed 35 kilograms, and was four feet tall.
evolution
Australopithecus africanus came from Australopithecus anamensis and was Australopithecus-robustus ancestor.
habitat
Australopithecus africanus lived in grasslands, not forests, and probably lived in one place for long periods. Perhaps, it used windbreaks.
hunting
Australopithecus africanus hunted animals, ate raw meat, cut skins, smashed bones, and took meat home.
tools
Australopithecus africanus selected stones, carried them home, and chipped to make hand-held choppers.
hand
Australopithecus africanus had flattened fingertips.
spine
S-shaped spines, with two curves, allowed more back flexibility and so more upright walking, more erect posture, faster running, and better balance. Upright posture allowed wider and farther vision.
digestion
Australopithecus africanus had no canine teeth and lean jaws, like humans, reflecting different diet.
brain
Australopithecus africanus had low skulls, with 500-cc to 800-cc brains. Many anastomotic channels with emissary veins near foramen magnum take blood to vertebral venous plexus. Perhaps, expanded neocortex frontal lobes allowed improved memory, spatial orientation, temporal orientation, and multisensory abilities.
Biological Sciences>Zoology>Kinds>Hominin
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Date Modified: 2022.0224