Australopithecus

Australopithecus is an early genus of hominins that lived between about 4 and 2 million years ago in Africa. These small, human-like beings walked on two legs and had both ape-like and human-like features, such as a smaller brain than modern humans but a more human-like face. Australopithecus is significant because it provides important clues about human evolution, showing how early ancestors adapted to their environments. Fossils of Australopithecus have helped scientists understand the transition from tree-dwelling to bipedal walking, marking a key evolutionary step towards modern humans.