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The Taung child is a member of the species Australopithecus __________.

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Final answer:

The Taung child's species is Australopithecus africanus, a hominin that lived between 2-3 million years ago, walked upright, and had a brain size similar to chimpanzees.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Taung child is a member of the species Australopithecus africanus. Discovered in 1924 by Raymond Dart, the Taung child's fossil provides significant insights into our evolutionary history. Australopithecus africanus exhibits both ape-like and human-like traits. This species walked upright as indicated by the placement of the foramen magnum, but had a brain size comparable to chimpanzees. Found in South Africa, this species lived between two and three million years ago and represents a critical transition in the lineage leading up to the genus Homo.

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