Why is the australopithecine fossil Lucy so important to scientists?

Lucy was one of the first hominin fossils to become a household name. Her skeleton is around 40\% complete – at the time of her discovery, she was by far the most complete early hominin known.

Why is Lucy the Australopithecus so important?

In 1974, Lucy showed that human ancestors were up and walking around long before the earliest stone tools were made or brains got bigger, and subsequent fossil finds of much earlier bipedal hominids have confirmed that conclusion. Bipedalism, it seems, was the first step towards becoming human.

What was the most important feature of Lucy?

Lucy represented an evolutionary bridge, with her relatively short legs and long arms, an anatomy of arboreal species. But walking upright had the advantage of freeing the forelimbs from locomotor needs, and instead to be used for carrying.

Why was the fossil named Lucy?

Lucy was named after the Beatles’ song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” A huge Beatles fan, Johanson had the whole camp of scientists listening to the band during their archaeological expedition.

What did scientist conclude about human biological evolution based on the findings of Lucy and other australopithecines?

What did scientists conclude about human biological evolution based on the findings of Lucy and other australopithecines? not “Bigger brains occurred well before and brought about bipedalism” or “These early human ancestors were quadrupedal.” What were Paleocene organisms that may have been the first primates?

Why is Australopithecus afarensis important?

This species is one of the best known of our ancestors due to a number of major discoveries including a set of fossil footprints and a fairly complete fossil skeleton of a female nicknamed ‘Lucy’.

How did the Australopithecus afarensis adapt to the environment?

They also had small canine teeth like all other early humans, and a body that stood on two legs and regularly walked upright. Their adaptations for living both in the trees and on the ground helped them survive for almost a million years as climate and environments changed.

Why is Australopithecus afarensis named Lucy?

A new species name, Australopithecus afarensis, was therefore created for them in 1978. This relatively complete female skeleton, dated to 3.2 million years old, is the most famous individual from this species. She was nicknamed ‘Lucy’ after the song ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds’ sung by The Beatles.

How did Australopithecus get its name?

Discovered in 1924, the Taung Child was the first evidence of early human species in Africa. The name Australopithecus africanus literally means ‘southern ape of Africa. ‘ It was named for the fact that it lived in modern-day South Africa.

What did scientists conclude about human biological evolution based on the findings?

What did scientists conclude about human biological evolution based on the findings of Lucy and other australopithecines? To be classified as a hominin, fossils had to demonstrate evidence of bipedal locomotion rather than larger brain size.

Which cranial traits do you think are more derived in Australopithecus afarensis compared to the earlier Ardipithecus ramidus species?

Which cranial traits do you think are more derived in Australopithecus afarensis compared to the earlier Ardipithecus ramidus species? The increase in brain size is the most prominent cranial change. Australopithecus afarensis is a gracile australopithecine.