
AbstractModern 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 ofHomo naledifrom Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. TheH. naledifoot 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, theH. naledifoot 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 forH. naledi, thus providing further evidence of locomotor diversity within both the hominin clade and the genusHomo.
Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, Foot, Fossils, Foot Bones, Hominidae, Pan paniscus, Biological Evolution, Article, Pongo pygmaeus, Animals, Humans
Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, Foot, Fossils, Foot Bones, Hominidae, Pan paniscus, Biological Evolution, Article, Pongo pygmaeus, Animals, Humans
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