Question

What clues do paleoanthropologists have about the locomotion of Australopithecus afarensis?

Answer 1

Ans. The species Australopithecus afarensis mostly thrived on trees. Hence as a result of which the anatomy of the species was such that it suited them to thrive on trees. The anatomy pointed to a mode of terrestrial bipedality which involved a less extension of the hips and knee than that which occurs in the modern humans. It also included a limited transfer of weight to the medial part of the ball of the foot.

The relative strength of the humerus and femur was between that of the chimpanzees and humans. The Xray microtomography of the bones by paleoanthropologists revealed it. It gives a clear evidence that the species used to spend a large amount of time on trees.

The femur analysis also suggests that walking gait was less efficient as that of modern humans.