How are members of the genus Homo different physically from the Australopithecus?

a. flattening of the face (the mouth doesn’t protrude forward like the australopithecines)

b. shorter arms

c. smaller-sized teeth and jaws

d. all of the above

e. none of the above (Homo and Australopithecus are basically the same in anatomy)

D. all of the above

Explanation:

Australopithecus (first ape-man) : Australopithecus is considered as the connecting link between apes and man as they shared the characteristics of both. The fossil records shows that they appeared around 5 million years ago. Australopithecus africanus was about 1.5 meters high and had human as well as ape like features. It was with bipedal locomotion, omnivorous in their diet and had erect posture. It had human like teeth with small canines and large chewing teeth. The brain was more like an ape with the brain capacity of about 500 cc similar to that of an ape. He lived in caves, had projected brow ridges with no chin. Its believed that Australopithecus africanus gave rise to Homo habilis about 2 million years ago.

The earliest species of Homo genus is Homo habilis. They were skill full man also called as handy man or the tool maker. He had erect posture with bipedal locomotion. The teeth were like modern man. He was skilled and made tools with stones. Slowly with evolution the prognathous face changed to orthognathous in cro magnon (Homo sapiens fossilis).