Overview
Known from two remarkably complete skeletons (MH1 juvenile and MH2 adult female) from Malapa Cave, South Africa. Displays a mosaic of Australopithecus and Homo traits including a small but reorganized brain, a modern-like hand with a precision grip, and an ancestral pelvis. Its discoverer Lee Berger proposed it as a direct ancestor of Homo, but this is contested by most researchers who consider it too late and too geographically restricted.
Key Fossils
MH1 (UW 88-50, juvenile male), MH2 (UW 88-7, adult female)
Brain Anatomy
No Cranial Data Available
Tools & Technology
No Tool Associations
Diet & Food Sources
Plant-based; bark, leaves, fruit, and possibly sedges based on dental calculus and isotopes
| Food Source | Type | Evidence | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooked plant underground storage organs | Cooked | Residue | Moderate |
Social Behavior
Malapa hominin pair Possible
Two individuals preserved; possible kin/group context.
Evidence: MH1 + MH2
Key Specimens
| Specimen | Name | Site | Year | Age (MYA) | Completeness | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MH1 | Karabo | Sterkfontein | 2008 | 1.98 | 65.00% | Holotype of A. sediba |
| MH2 | Issa | Sterkfontein | 2008 | 1.98 | 55.00% | Paratype of A. sediba |
Life History
| Estimated Lifespan | ~30 years |
|---|---|
| Age at Maturity | ~11.0 years |
| Weaning Age | ~3.5 years |
| Interbirth Interval | ~4.5 years |
| Gestation | ~8.0 months |
| Dental Development | MH1 juvenile: prolonged brain growth claim |
| Brain Growth | Mosaic brain development |
| Growth Comparison | Between australopiths and Homo (debated) |
| Confidence | Estimated from fossils |
Comparative Anatomy
| Encephalization Quotient | 2.85 |
|---|---|
| Intermembral Index | 90.0 |
| Locomotion | Obligate biped |
| Foramen Magnum | Anterior |
| Precision Grip | Developed |
| Pelvic Shape | Intermediate |
| Robusticity | Gracile |
| Big Toe | Partially adducted |
| Thorax | Intermediate |
Au. sediba: hand/pelvis mosaic; precision grip claims.
Isotope Analyses
| System | Value | Material | Site | Date (MYA) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| delta C13 | -9.00 | Enamel | Sterkfontein | 2.000 | Malapa: C3-biased signal in some individuals (environmental/diet heterogeneity). |
Dating Evidence
| Method | Date (MYA) | Uncertainty | Material | Site / Specimen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmogenic nuclide | 2.8000 | ± 0.3000 | Member 4 breccia (surface exposure models) | Sterkfontein |
| U Pb | 2.6700 | ± 0.1500 | Flowstone (Little Foot) | Sterkfontein / Stw 573 |
Fossil Occurrences
The Paleobiology Database records 1 fossil occurrence(s) attributed to Australopithecus sediba. View on map →
| Identified As | Location | Formation | Age (MYA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australopithecus sediba n. sp. | ZA | – | 2.58 – 0.77 |
Data from the Paleobiology Database (CC-BY).
3D Fossil Scans
6 3D scan(s) available from MorphoSource.
Cranium [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Mandible [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Mandible [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Mandible [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Mandible [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
Mandible [Mesh] [Etc]
Evolutionary Studies Institute
3D data from MorphoSource. Individual media may have specific usage terms.
Scientific References
- (2010). "Australopithecus sediba: a new species of Homo-like australopith from South Africa". Science 328:195-204. DOI:10.1126/science.1184944 (494 citations)