The cranial capacity of Australopithecus was about 500 cc. Australopithecus existed in

Options

A. miocene
B. Pliocene
C. pleistocene
D. both pliocene and pleistocene

Answer

To answer the question regarding the cranial capacity of Australopithecus and the time period during which they existed, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Cranial Capacity**:
- Australopithecus had a cranial capacity of about 500 cc. This indicates a relatively small brain size compared to modern humans, which is an important aspect of their evolutionary significance.

2. **Identifying the Geological Epochs**:
- The question provides four options: Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, and both Pliocene and Pleistocene. We need to determine the time period during which Australopithecus existed.

3. **Researching the Existence of Australopithecus**:
- Australopithecus is known to have existed approximately between 4.4 million years ago and 1.4 million years ago. This time frame is crucial for identifying the correct epoch.

4. **Relating Time Frame to Geological Epochs**:
- The Miocene epoch occurred before the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. The Pliocene epoch ranges from about 5.3 million to 2.6 million years ago, and the Pleistocene epoch ranges from about 2.6 million years ago to around 11,700 years ago.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since Australopithecus existed during the time frame that overlaps with both the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs, the correct answer is that Australopithecus existed during both the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.

### Final Answer:
- Australopithecus existed in both the Pliocene and the Pleistocene epochs.

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