Final answer:
The forward position of the foramen magnum in the Taung child fossil indicated bipedalism and an upright posture, supporting Dart's conclusion that it was a new genus, Australopithecus.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the characteristics on the fossil that led Dart to conclude that the Taung specimen from South Africa was not an ape, and was therefore a new genus, Australopithecus, was the forward position of the foramen magnum. The foramen magnum is the opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes. In the Taung child, the foramen magnum is located towards the front of the skull, indicating that it was poised on top of the vertebral column. This suggests bipedalism and an upright posture, a key feature that distinguishes Australopithecus from apes.