Haeusler
Fakultäten » Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät » Anthropologisches Institut und Museum » Dr. Martin Haeusler (ausgetreten) » Haeusler
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Indications for the locomotion of Australopithecus africanus based on the new pelvis of Stw 431 (Sterkfontein, South Africa) | ||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | In 1987 a partial skeleton of an adult Australopithecus africanus, Stw 431, was discovered from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa. In its completeness it is only surpassed by Sts 14, another A. africanus skeleton from Sterkfontein, and by AL 288-1 ("Lucy") from Hadar, Ethiopia. A substantial part of the pelvis is preserved along with a large segment of the vertebral column and upper limb. Being one of the largest individuals of the South African australopithecines it is of great importance in helping to elucidate the degree and pattern of sexual dimorphism in A. africanus. In contrast to Sts 14, the surface of the bone is in a very good condition so that the origins and insertions of muscles and ligaments can be studied in detail for the first time. Many of the pelvic characteristics are common to all australopithecines; others suggest more human-like adaptations to bipedalism than those found in AL 288-1. This is in good accordance with the shape of the pelvic canal of Sts 14 which is more human-like than that of AL 288-1 (Häusler & Schmid, 1995). Yet it is rather unexpected in the light of new studies that indicate for A. africanus more ape-like body proportions than for the earlier and craniodentally more primitive A. afarensis, the latter species being more similar to later Homo in forelimb-to-hindlimb proportions (McHenry & Berger, 1998). Although the lower limb skeleton is missing in Stw 431, the size of the femur head can be inferred from the acetabulum. With the preserved elements from the upper limb of Stw 431 it is for the first time possible to assess the body proportions for a single skeleton of A. africanus and to test the hypothesis of McHenry and Berger directly. | ||||
| Publications / Publikationen | Häusler, M. (2001). New insights into the locomotion of Australopithecus africanus: Implications of the partial skeleton Stw 431 (Sterkfontein, South Africa). Ph.D. Dissertation, Universität Zürich.Weitere Informationen | ||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Australopithecus africanus, Locomotion, Pelvis, Body proportions | ||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Foundation A.H. Schultz-Stiftung |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Oct 1995 to Dec 2001 |