title: A partial pelvis of Australopithecus sediba.
abstract: The fossil record of the hominin pelvis reflects important evolutionary changes in locomotion and parturition. The partial pelves of two individuals of Australopithecus sediba were reconstructed from previously reported finds and new material. These remains share some features with australopiths, such as large biacetabular diameter, small sacral and coxal joints, and long pubic rami. The specimens also share derived features with Homo, including more vertically oriented and sigmoid-shaped iliac blades, greater robusticity of the iliac body, sinusoidal anterior iliac borders, shortened ischia, and more superiorly oriented pubic rami. These derived features appear in a species with a small adult brain size, suggesting that the birthing of larger-brained babies was not driving the evolution of the pelvis at this time.
authors: Institute for Human Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa.
authors: Job M
authors: JM
authors: Kibii
authors: Steven E
authors: SE
authors: Churchill
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Schmid
authors: Kristian J
authors: KJ
authors: Carlson
authors: Nichelle D
authors: ND
authors: Reed
authors: Darryl J
authors: DJ
authors: de Ruiter
authors: Lee R
authors: LR
authors: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007512:Ischium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012447:Sacrum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013019:South Africa