Australopithecines
Australopithecus sediba
1.98–1.97 Ma·10 ka·Discovered 2008
Description
Curious mosaic of Australopithecus and Homo traits. Discovered by Matthew Berger, 9-year-old son of paleoanthropologist Lee Berger.
Notable facts
- A 9-year-old found the first fossil
- Has nearly human hand but ape-like arms
- Some consider it a direct Homo ancestor
- Its spine has a modern lumbar curve
Key specimens
MH1
"Karabo" — juvenile male
Partial skeleton of an adolescent, found by Matthew Berger (age 9) in 2008 at Malapa.
MH2
Adult female
Postcranial skeleton with a near-complete arm and hand.
Anatomy
Mosaic: small brain but modern pelvis and hand. Long arms, short legs.
Locomotion
Bipedal with unusual gait — feet rotated inward.
Diet
Bark, leaves, fruits — including unusual fibrous food.
Where to see it
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Media & references
Image ·
Wikimedia Commons · Wikipedia article
Berger et al. (2010). Australopithecus sediba: A new species of Homo-like australopith from South Africa. Science.
doi: 10.1126/science.1184944 ↗