Careful Climbing in the Miocene: The Forelimbs of Ardipithecus ramidus and Humans Are Primitive

The Ardipithecus ramidus hand and wrist exhibit none of the derived mechanisms that restrict motion in extant great apes and are reminiscent of those of Miocene apes, such as PROCONSUL: The capitate head is more palmar than in all other known hominoids, permitting extreme midcarpal dorsiflexion. Ar....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2009-10, Vol.326 (5949), p.70-70
Main Authors: Lovejoy, C. Owen, Simpson, Scott W, White, Tim D, Asfaw, Berhane, Suwa, Gen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apes
Biological Evolution
Carpal Bones - anatomy & histology
Carpal Joints - anatomy & histology
Dexterity
Evolutionary biology
Finger Phalanges - anatomy & histology
Fingers
Forelimb - anatomy & histology
Forelimbs
Fossils
Hand Joints - anatomy & histology
Hands
Hominidae - anatomy & histology
Hominidae - physiology
Hominids
Humans
Humerus - anatomy & histology
Joints
Locomotion
Metacarpal Bones - anatomy & histology
Paleontology
Primates
Radius - anatomy & histology
Special Section: Ardipithecus Ramidus
Ulna - anatomy & histology
Walking
Wrist
Wrist joint
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Summary:The Ardipithecus ramidus hand and wrist exhibit none of the derived mechanisms that restrict motion in extant great apes and are reminiscent of those of Miocene apes, such as PROCONSUL: The capitate head is more palmar than in all other known hominoids, permitting extreme midcarpal dorsiflexion. Ar. ramidus and all later hominids lack the carpometacarpal articular and ligamentous specializations of extant apes. Manual proportions are unlike those of any extant ape. Metacarpals 2 through 5 are relatively short, lacking any morphological traits associable with knuckle-walking. Humeral and ulnar characters are primitive and like those of later hominids. The Ar. ramidus forelimb complex implies palmigrady during bridging and careful climbing and exhibits none of the adaptations to vertical climbing, forelimb suspension, and knuckle-walking that are seen in extant African apes.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1175827