Final answer:
Many species of australopithecines co-existed in Africa, indicating a complex and overlapping evolutionary history among varying hominins before the rise of modern humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fact that many species of australopithecines lived in Africa at the same time demonstrates that they were part of a varied group of hominins with potentially overlapping territories and niches. These hominins, which include both gracile and robust forms, were not separated geographically over millions of years and thus did not evolve to be vastly different species during that period. Examples of australopithecines include Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus africanus, and members of the genus Paranthropus. This diversity indicates a complex evolutionary history where these early hominins co-existed and adapted to various environments in Africa before the emergence of our own species.