" The first members of the genus Australopithecus are thought to have emerged in east Africa roughly 4.5m years ago, evolving into the species Australopithecus afarensis close to 3.8m years ago, " says Dr Tawane.

“南方古猿属的第一批成员被认为大约在 450 万年前出现在东非，并在大约 380 万年前演变成南方古猿阿法种，”Tawane 博士说。