Work

Mosaic Morphology in the Thorax of Australopithecus sediba

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: The shape of the thorax of early hominins has been a point of contention for more than 30 years. Owing to the generally fragmentary nature of fossil hominin ribs, few specimens have been recovered that have rib remains complete enough to allow accurate reassembly of thoracic shape, thus leaving open the question of when the cylindrical-shaped chest of humans and their immediate ancestors evolved. The ribs of Australopithecus sediba exhibit a mediolaterally narrow, ape-like upper thoracic shape, which is unlike the broad upper thorax of Homo that has been related to the locomotor pattern of endurance walking and running. The lower thorax, however, appears less laterally flared than that of apes and more closely approximates the morphology found in humans.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1234598

Authors: Peter Schmid, Steven E. Churchill, Shahed Nalla, Eveline Weissen, Kristian J. Carlson, Darryl J. de Ruiter, Lee R. Berger

Institutions: University of the Witwatersrand, University of Zurich, Duke University, University of Johannesburg, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, Texas A&M University

Language: English

Topic: Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

Subfield: Anthropology

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2028630620

FWCI: 43.53

Cites: 40

Cited by: 76

Related to: 10