The Alpha Taxonomy of Australopithecus africanus

摘要: The identification of species in the fossil record has long vexed paleontologists because its inherent difficulty, and it preoccupied them fundamental significance. Australopithecus africanus exemplifies this difficulty importance. This species, as commonly defined, is viewed by some having played a role evolution genus Homo, while others consider to have been uniquely related Paranthropus. A third opinion places near base evolutionary divergence “robust” australopith human lineages. Various analyses find A. be phylogenetically unstable, almost certainly owing craniodental variability. led questions concerning taxonomic homogeneity assemblages from Taung, Sterkfontein, Makapansgat that comprise hypodigm. Initial discoveries at these sites were attributed different possibly genera, but subsequent studies suggested fossils represent single, albeit variable taxon. paradigm become current conventional paleoanthropological wisdom, observations about degree pattern variability evinced raised anew possibility hypodigm taxonomically heterogeneous. workers proposed least belong taxon, there notable lack agreement over manner which they should sorted. Morphometric tend little, if any, support for heterogeneity, may not directly addressed those features differ. Novel innovative technological quantitative approaches are required adequately address possible heterogeneity