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The foot of Homo naledi

Author

Listed:
  • W. E. H. Harcourt-Smith

    (Lehman College CUNY
    American Museum of Natural History
    City University of New York Graduate Center
    Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand)

  • Z. Throckmorton

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University)

  • K. A. Congdon

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    Southern Utah University)

  • B. Zipfel

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand)

  • A. S. Deane

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    University of Kentucky College of Medicine, MN 224 UK Medical Center)

  • M. S. M. Drapeau

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    Université de Montréal)

  • S. E. Churchill

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    Duke University)

  • L. R. Berger

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand)

  • J. M. DeSilva

    (Evolutionary Studies Institute and Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
    Dartmouth College
    Boston University)

Abstract

Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with an adducted hallux, an elongated tarsus, and derived ankle and calcaneocuboid joints. In combination, these features indicate a foot well adapted for striding bipedalism. However, the H. naledi foot differs from modern humans in having more curved proximal pedal phalanges, and features suggestive of a reduced medial longitudinal arch. Within the context of primitive features found elsewhere in the skeleton, these findings suggest a unique locomotor repertoire for H. naledi, thus providing further evidence of locomotor diversity within both the hominin clade and the genus Homo.

Suggested Citation

  • W. E. H. Harcourt-Smith & Z. Throckmorton & K. A. Congdon & B. Zipfel & A. S. Deane & M. S. M. Drapeau & S. E. Churchill & L. R. Berger & J. M. DeSilva, 2015. "The foot of Homo naledi," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9432
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9432
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