Final answer:
The killer ape in the hypothesis is not a specific ape but rather a model that suggests early human ancestors engaged in violence and aggression as key evolutionary traits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The killer ape in the killer ape hypothesis is not a specific individual but rather a model suggesting that aggression and violence played a significant role in the evolution of early hominins, including the genus Australopithecus. This hypothesis posits that these traits were inherent to survival and social structures of early humans and their ancestors. The killer ape hypothesis has been debated and critiqued within the scientific community, with varying levels of acceptance.The killer ape in the killer ape hypothesis refers to our genus, genus Homo. Australopithecus is a genus of hominin that is thought to have evolved into genus Homo, which includes modern humans. The killer ape hypothesis suggests that violence and aggression played a significant role in the evolution of early humans.