ANTHR-140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Australopithecus, Mechanical Advantage, Postcrania
23 Sep 2020
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Huge eyes nocturnal, no tapetum lucidum. Upright: fossil evidence indicates that early hominins adapted bipedal behavior long before encephalization. Benefits of bipedalism: efficient walking long distances, higher visual aspects, leaves hands free for other behaviors. Anatomic features of bipedalism: pelvic shape, stiffer foot, position of foramen magnum, femoral valgus, lumbar lordosis. Pelvic shape: pelvis is shorter and cup-shaped to support viscera, iliac blades are reoriented laterally to increase mechanical advantage of hip abductors (gluteal muscles) Stiffer foot: mobility of ankle and tarsals is reduced, hallux (big toe) is adducted, creates a powerful strut for toe-off phase. Human-chimpanzee split most likely occurred 6. 4-4. 5 mya (transition from miocene to. Fossil: the remains or traces of animals and plants which have been preserved by natural causes must be older than 12,000 years. Early hominins (pre-australoptiths, australopiths, early homos: pre-australopiths, east and central africa. Ardipithecus kadabba: 5. 8-5. 2 mya, ethiopia (middle awash, primitive traits, wooded habitat.
