Australopithecus Sediba

Australopithecus sediba is a species of Australopithecus of the early Pleistocene, identified based on fossil remains dated to about 2 million years ago. Morphologically, A. sediba is distinct from but still closely related to both Homo habilis and Australopithecus africanus.[2] It is therefore of interest as a candidate for a transitional species in the emergence of the Homo (human) genus.

The species A. sediba is postulated on the basis of six partial skeletons discovered in the Malapa Fossil Site at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa. The holotype was dubbed MH1 (Malapa hominin 1), a juvenile male also named "Karabo".[3] MH2, the paratype, is an adult female. The other remains are those of an adult male, and of three infants.[1][4] The fossils were found together at the bottom of the Malapa Cave, where they apparently fell to their death, and have been dated to 1.98 million years ago.[5] The partial skeletons were initially described as a newly discovered species in 2010, based on a total of some 220 bone fragments. The name sediba was taken from the word for "natural spring" or "well" in the Sotho language.[1]