Is "Lucy" the missing link? R
Australopithecus afarensis, or "Lucy" as also know, was discovered in November 1974. She was the most complete hominid skeleton that had been found in the world at that time. Being the only complete skeleton that had been found that was older than Neanderthal, she was a great discovery, particularly as she had many distinctive features putting her in a class of her own. This led many scientists to believe that "Lucy" was and is the missing link in the evolution of mankind. There were however, a number of controversies surrounding her discovery that open many discussions and questions about where she really is what she first appeared to be.The discovery of "Lucy" was made in northeast Africa, in the Hadar region of Ethiopia by scientists Maurice Taieb, Donald Johanson and their colleagues. This was one of the first discoveries of such a skeleton, and certainly the most complete skeleton of their find. She stood just under four foot tall yet was a mature female adult skeleton of around twenty-five years of age. She also possessed many ape-like characteristics such as long arms and short legs. Many of the other fossilised bones in the area that were found showed that there were many more like "Lucy" with many of them gre
Much debate around the discovery of A. afarensis was concerned with where its place in human genealogy was. Could Australopithecus be separated form homo habilis and whether there should be different categories of Australopithecus as there was such a broad area of discoveries. Largely increased cranial size and smaller teeth in Homo habilis indicating that there was indeed a call for a different category for A. afarensis. There was still further debate as to whether the new discovery of "Lucy" was indeed an Australopithecine as first believed. Already there had been a number of australopithecines identified. From earlier discoveries of A. Afarensis, initially fitted "Lucy" into that category. Her skeleton was similar to the earlier discoveries placing her in that group, however there were still some differences linking her back to Homo habilis. This theory did not convince all scientists. There are many who place other types of Australopithecines as the link between Homo and Australopithecus. There is a gap in African fossil record that makes it difficult to identify and links for certain. Further debate about the 'missing link' have come in more recent times with the discovery of what is believed to be a new type of Australopithecine. In 1994 came the discovery of Australopithecus anamenis, and in 1995, Australopithecus ramidus (later renamed Ardipithecus - a new genus type). Both these finds date to earlier that A. afarensis and have opened up the date as to whether or not "Lucy" was the missing link. A. Anamenis may prove to be more of the link that A. afarensis. They too were bipedal
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1249
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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