In 1924 Raymond Dart discovered the first in a series of ape-like creatures that have become one of the most popularized "ape-men". Dart examined the creature and placed it in the lineage of man, creating a controversy. Others such as Robert Broom, John T. Robinson, and Mary and Louis Leakey have made similar discoveries.
Australopithecines have been discovered in two types: the A. robustus which has massive teeth and boney ridges (sagittal and supramastoid crests), and the A. africanus which is a gracile form with smaller jaws and teeth. Their weight is estimated at 60-70 lbs. Both types are characterized by an ape-like cranium with a brain capacity of about 500 cc, which is about the size of a gorilla and about one third that of a human.
The dental arcade is more parabolic than "U" shaped and the front teeth (incisors and canines) are relatively small. However, their pre-molars and molars are massive, and in the case of A. africanus are as large as those found in 400 lb. gorillas.
From some fragments of pelvis and limbs it is the consensus of most evolutionists that these creatures walked upright habitually. This view was disputed by Solly Lord Zukerman, distinguished British anatomist. For 15 years, Zuckerman led a team that examined Australopithecine fossils, monkeys, apes and man. His conclusion was that Australopithecines were not ancestral to man, nor habitually walked upright.
To date, this creature plays a key role in the evolutionary explanation of origins.
References: Gish 1985, 144-151Continue with: Early Man Fossils: KNM-ER 1470