title: The upper limb of Australopithecus sediba.
abstract: The evolution of the human upper limb involved a change in function from its use for both locomotion and prehension (as in apes) to a predominantly prehensile and manipulative role. Well-preserved forelimb remains of 1.98-million-year-old Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa, contribute to our understanding of this evolutionary transition. Whereas other aspects of their postcranial anatomy evince mosaic combinations of primitive (australopith-like) and derived (Homo-like) features, the upper limbs (excluding the hand and wrist) of the Malapa hominins are predominantly primitive and suggest the retention of substantial climbing and suspensory ability. The use of the forelimb primarily for prehension and manipulation appears to arise later, likely with the emergence of Homo erectus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. churchy@duke.edu
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: Trenton W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Holliday
authors.forename: Kristian J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jashashvili
authors.forename: Marisa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Tawnee L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sparling
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Darryl J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050280:Arm Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001133:Bones of Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D002968:Clavicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012540:Scapula / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013019:South Africa; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*