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8: Early Hominins

  • Page ID
    258646
    • Kristen A. Broehl

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    Learning Objectives
    • Recognize skeletal traits associated with bipedal locomotion
    • Explain how modern analogs help anthropologists interpret behavior from fossil remains
    • Assess australopithecine locomotive behavior using skeletal morphology

    • 8.1: Derived Adaptations - Bipedalism
      This page explores the role of obligate bipedalism in distinguishing modern humans from great apes, outlining theories on its origin linked to an arboreal ancestor. It discusses the selective pressures that shaped bipedalism and details skeletal adaptations for upright walking, along with evolutionary compromises leading to joint problems.
    • 8.2: Fossil Hominins
      This page provides an in-depth examination of fossil hominins, focusing on their adaptations for bipedalism and comparing features of early species like Ardipithecus and Australopithecines with modern humans. It emphasizes key skeletal adaptations, such as the pelvis and foot structure, and the evolution of robust Australopithecines with distinct dental traits.

    Thumbnail: « Lucy » skeleton (AL 288-1) Australopithecus afarensis, cast from Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris. (Cc BY 2.5; 120 via Wikipedia)


    This page titled 8: Early Hominins is shared under a CC BY 1.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kristen A. Broehl via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.