The capitate of Australopithecus afarensis and A. africanus

Henry M. McHenry

88 citations0/0 files storedAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology

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Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology Primate Behavior and Ecology

Abstract

The capitates of Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288-lw and AL 333-40) and A. africanus (TM 1526) have the identical combination of modern pongid, modern hominid, and unique characteristics. These traits include the combination of a length that is proximodistally shortened (Homo sapiens-like), a facet for the second metacarpal that is distolaterally facing (unique), the reduced styloid process on the third metacarpal (pongidlike), a dorsally placed trapezoid facet (pongidlike), mediolaterally constricted metacarpal III facet (pongidlike), a prominent palmar beak (pongidlike), a single elongated facet for the second metacarpal (H. sapiens-like), a waisted neck (pongidlike), and a reduced amount of "cupping" in the third metacarpal facet (H. sapiens-like). In overall shape the bones are more like H. sapiens than other extant hominids, although they are uniquely different. The two A. afarensis capitates provide no evidence that there are two postcranial morphotypes at Hadar. Available evidence shows that A. afarensis and A. africanus are strikingly similar postcranially. The morphological differences between the capitate of Australopithecus and H. sapiens may relate to the retention of climbing ability and an absence of certain grip capabilities in these early hominids.

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References

1983The locomotor anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis 1974Early Hominid Posture and Locomotion.1982Morphology of the Pliocene partial hominid skeleton (A.L. 288‐1) from the Hadar formation, Ethiopia 1978A new species of the genus Australopithecus (Primates: Hominidae) from the Pliocene of eastern Africa 1967Knuckle‐walking and the evolution of hominoid hands 1982Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind 1982Lucy's limbs: skeletal allometry and locomotion in Australopithecus afarensis 1975Some evidence of chronology and palaeoecology of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai from the fossil Bovidae

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