First named by Raymond Dart in 1925 based on the Taung specimen. There is some difference of opinion regarding the authorship year. Groves (1999) refers to Australopithecus africanus Dart, 1924. The first paragraph of Dart's 1925 article in Nature indicates the Taung skull was discovered "Late in 1924" so a 1925 publication and date for the name seems apprpriate. The Nature article is dated February 1925. Zoobank lists Australopithecus africanus Dart 1925.
