These five photographs show a reconstruction in the Smithsonian collections of an adult Australopithecus africanus. This is not a single individual; rather, it is a composite skull, pieced together using three fossils found at the site of Makapansgat, South Africa. The parts of this reconstruction that are based on actual fossil bones are shown in light brown.

The MLD 1 specimen is the occipital area, or rear portion of the skull, of an adult A. africanus. This area can be seen in the side view of the composite skull, and it gives researchers important clues as to the overall shape of this species' skull. The specimen also contains part of the foramen magnum, or the hole where the spinal chord and brain meet. Its forward position indicates that this meeting place was tucked well under the head, which suggests that this individual had an upright posture.

The MLD 2 specimen is a partial mandible of A. africanus. In the reconstruction, a full dentition is shown. In the actual specimen, though, only two of three molars are present on each side, and the second premolar on the left is impacted. No canines or incisors were found with the mandible.

The MLD 6 specimen is a partial maxilla and the right side of the face of an A. africanus individual, which is visible in frontal, lateral, and three-quarters view. Three molars are present in MLD 6, as well as a well-preserved portion where the zygomatic arch, or rear portion of the cheekbone, attaches to the face just below the eye sockets.

The remainder of the skull, shown here in dark brown, is based on the shape of the skull from other A. africanus finds (particularly STS 5).