300 likes | 541 Views
The Functional Anatomy and Evolution of Bipedalism. David Strait University at Albany, Dept. of Anthropology. What makes us human? Which human adaptation evolved first?. Large brain. Tool-use. Precision grip. Language. Bipedalism. The functional morphology of bipedalism. Valgus
E N D
The Functional Anatomy and Evolution of Bipedalism David Strait University at Albany, Dept. of Anthropology
What makes us human? Which human adaptation evolved first?
The functional morphology of bipedalism
Valgus knee joint Australopithecus afarensis Pan troglodytes
Lumbar curvature (lordosis) Pan troglodytes Homo sapiens
Large, adducted hallux Homo sapiens Pan troglodytes
Large, adducted hallux Short phalanges
Large femoral head Homo sapiens Pan troglodytes
Hypotheses explaining the origins of bipedalism
Tool-use The earliest hominids pre-date the earliest tools by 3.5 million years
Carrying Carrying hypotheses are very difficult to test.
Feeding posture Very difficult to test in the fossil record.
Locomotor efficiency Bipedalism in the earliest hominids would have been inefficient. Would it have been more or less efficient than alternative modes of locomotion?
The vertical- climbing hypothesis
Chimpanzee wrist, lateral view Flexed Extended
Feeding posture Carrying