Australopithecus Afarensis -

: Analysis of the pelvis, leg bones, and the famous Laetoli footprints in Tanzania confirms that they habitually walked upright on two legs.

Australopithecus afarensis (meaning "Southern Ape of Afar") is one of the longest-lived and best-documented early human species, having survived for more than 900,000 years in Eastern Africa . This species, which lived between approximately , is most famously represented by the partial skeleton known as "Lucy" . Key Evolutionary Traits

: Despite being bipedal, their long, strong arms and curved fingers suggest they still spent significant time climbing trees for food or shelter.

: There was a notable size difference between the sexes; for instance, "Lucy" stood about 3.5 feet tall, whereas presumed males reached up to 5.5 feet. Famous Specimens & Sites

: They exhibited a mix of ape and human-like characteristics. While they walked like humans, they had ape-like face proportions—including a flat nose and projecting lower jaw—and a small braincase (less than 500 cc).