South Turkwel: a new pliocene hominid site in Kenya.
J Hum Evol
; 36(1): 69-95, 1999 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9924134
ABSTRACT
New fossils discovered south of the Turkwel River in northern Kenya include an associated metacarpal, capitate, hamate, lunate, pedal phalanx, mandibular fragment, and teeth. These fossils probably date to around 3.5 m.y.a. Faunal information suggests that the environment at South Turkwel was predominantly bushland. The mandibular and dental remains are fragmentary, but the postcranial fossils are informative. Comparisons with Australopithecus, modern human, chimpanzee and gorilla hand bones suggest that the Turkwel hominid was most like Australopithecus afarensis and A. africanus. Carpometacarpal articulations are intermediate between those of modern humans and African apes, suggesting enhanced gripping capabilities compared with extant apes. The hamulus was strikingly large, similar in proportion only to Neandertals and some gorillas, suggesting the presence of powerful forearms and hands. There are no indicators of adaptations to knuckle-walking or suspensory locomotion in the hand, and the pedal phalanx suggests that this hominid was habitually bipedal.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hominidae
/
Fósiles
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Hum Evol
Año:
1999
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos