Any member of an extinct genus of early human ancestors that lived in Africa millions of years ago, characterized by walking upright and having an ape-like face.
From the subfamily Australopithecinae, referring to individual members of this group. The name combines Latin australis (southern) and Greek pithekos (ape).
Famous australopithecines like 'Lucy' are among humanity's oldest known ancestors—seeing their skeletons is like looking at a real bridge between modern humans and our primate relatives!
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