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Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kivell, TL; Kibii, JM; Churchill, SE; Schmid, P; Berger, LR
Published in: Science (New York, N.Y.)
September 2011

Hand bones from a single individual with a clear taxonomic affiliation are scarce in the hominin fossil record, which has hampered understanding the evolution of manipulative abilities in hominins. Here we describe and analyze a nearly complete wrist and hand of an adult female [Malapa Hominin 2 (MH2)] Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa (1.977 million years ago). The hand presents a suite of Australopithecus-like features, such as a strong flexor apparatus associated with arboreal locomotion, and Homo-like features, such as a long thumb and short fingers associated with precision gripping and possibly stone tool production. Comparisons to other fossil hominins suggest that there were at least two distinct hand morphotypes around the Plio-Pleistocene transition. The MH2 fossils suggest that Au. sediba may represent a basal condition associated with early stone tool use and production.

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Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

333

Issue

6048

Start / End Page

1411 / 1417

Related Subject Headings

  • Tool Use Behavior
  • Thumb
  • South Africa
  • Motor Activity
  • Metacarpal Bones
  • Locomotion
  • Humans
  • Hominidae
  • Hand Bones
  • Hand
 

Citation

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Kivell, T. L., Kibii, J. M., Churchill, S. E., Schmid, P., & Berger, L. R. (2011). Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities. Science (New York, N.Y.), 333(6048), 1411–1417. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1202625
Kivell, Tracy L., Job M. Kibii, Steven E. Churchill, Peter Schmid, and Lee R. Berger. “Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities.Science (New York, N.Y.) 333, no. 6048 (September 2011): 1411–17. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1202625.
Kivell TL, Kibii JM, Churchill SE, Schmid P, Berger LR. Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities. Science (New York, NY). 2011 Sep;333(6048):1411–7.
Kivell, Tracy L., et al. “Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities.Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 333, no. 6048, Sept. 2011, pp. 1411–17. Epmc, doi:10.1126/science.1202625.
Kivell TL, Kibii JM, Churchill SE, Schmid P, Berger LR. Australopithecus sediba hand demonstrates mosaic evolution of locomotor and manipulative abilities. Science (New York, NY). 2011 Sep;333(6048):1411–1417.
Journal cover image

Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

333

Issue

6048

Start / End Page

1411 / 1417

Related Subject Headings

  • Tool Use Behavior
  • Thumb
  • South Africa
  • Motor Activity
  • Metacarpal Bones
  • Locomotion
  • Humans
  • Hominidae
  • Hand Bones
  • Hand