Australopithecus afarensis

[aw-strey-loh-pith-i-kuhs uh-fah-ren-sis, -puh-thee-kuhs, aw-struh-loh-]

noun

1. an extinct species of early hominin whose fossil remains were discovered in Ethiopia and have been dated at about 2.8–4 million years of age.

2. a fossil belonging to this species.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Australopithecus afarensis¹

First recorded in 1975–80; from New Latin; Australopithecus ( def. ) + afarēnsis, after the Afar region of Ethiopia, where Lucy was found. See -ensis

Example Sentences

In northern Tanzania, footprints helped anthropologists understand that other hominin species also coexisted near the famous human ancestor “Lucy,” a species known as Australopithecus afarensis, dating back roughly 3 million years ago.

From Salon

Between 2 million and 3 million years ago, many kinds of hominins walked the same African landscapes as Lucy’s species, Australopithecus afarensis.

From Science Magazine

Most scholars agree these tracks were made by Australopithecus afarensis—Lucy’s species—fossils of which have been found at Laetoli.

From Scientific American

The tracks are distinct from Australopithecus afarensis—the area’s known hominid species—suggesting early humans with very different strides may have coexisted.

From Scientific American

Many speculated they were left by close kin of the famous fossil hominin known as Lucy, a member of Australopithecus afarensis, a human ancestor that lived between 3.9 and 3 million years ago.

From Science Magazine