Adaptation to suspensory locomotion in Australopithecus sediba
| Autor: | Katerina Harvati, Kristian J. Carlson, Terry Harrison, Thomas R. Rein |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Arboreal locomotion Hominidae Adaptation Biological Ulna 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences medicine Animals 0601 history and archaeology Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Australopithecus sediba 060101 anthropology biology Fossils 06 humanities and the arts Anatomy biology.organism_classification medicine.anatomical_structure Australopithecus Anthropology Climbing Forelimb Adaptation Australopithecus afarensis Locomotion |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Human Evolution. 104:1-12 |
| ISSN: | 0047-2484 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.12.005 |
| Popis: | Australopithecus sediba is represented by well-preserved fossilized remains from the locality of Malapa, South Africa. Recent work has shown that the combination of features in the limb skeleton of A. sediba was distinct from that of earlier species of Australopithecus, perhaps indicating that this species moved differently. The bones of the arm and forearm indicate that A. sediba was adapted to suspensory and climbing behaviors. We used a geometric morphometric approach to examine ulnar shape, potentially identifying adaptations to forelimb suspensory locomotion in A. sediba. Results indicated suspensory capabilities in this species and a stronger forelimb suspensory signal than has been documented in Australopithecus afarensis. Our study confirms the adaptive significance of functional morphological traits for arboreal movements in the locomotor repertoire of A. sediba and provides important insight into the diversity and mosaic nature of locomotor adaptations among early hominins. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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