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Australopithecus Africanus lived around 3.3 – 2.1 million years ago in Southern Africa, hence the name Australopithecus (Southern ape) Africanus (from Africa). Two skulls have been discovered to be Australopithecus Africanus, the Taung Child and Ms. Ples, and both of them were discovered in South Africa between 1924 and 1938. Australopithecus Africanus was thought to have been an early human ancestor and progenitor of the Homo genus.

On average male Au. Africanus stood about four and a half feet tall and weighed only ninety pounds. Au. Africanus has a very sloped face and pronounced jaw which is very similar to many species of chimpanzees that are around today. They would have been bipedal and with their long arms would have also been extraordinary climbers. They did not have any tools and because of that their diet was limited to plants, berries, roots, fruit, and seeds.