Australopithecus africanus

Australopithecus africanus is an early human ancestor that lived about 2 to 3 million years ago in Africa. This species stood upright and walked on two legs, showing a mix of human-like and ape-like traits. It had a relatively small brain size, similar to that of modern apes, but its facial structure was more human-like. Fossils of A. africanus, discovered in the 1920s, help scientists understand human evolution and the transition from tree-dwelling to ground-dwelling lifestyles. It is a crucial link in studying how early hominins adapted to their environments and eventually evolved into modern humans.