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Morphological Characterization of Fossil GWM10/P1, a Proximal Manual Phalanx of Ardipthecus ramidus

mcdermott, yvonne paulina

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Biology.
Pliocene hominin Ardipithecus ramidus represents an early human ancestor proficient at quadrupedalism and bipedalism. Its anatomically mosaic pelvis and lower limbs reveal adaptations for both modes of locomotion. The Ar. ramidus hand is one of a generalist, lacking the derived features of knuckle-walking modern African apes or of the suspensory orangutans. Here, we characterize GWM10/P1, an Ar. ramidus manual proximal phalanx from Gona, Ethiopia. By comparisons of morphologies and metrics of manual proximal phalanges of modern human and non-human primates, we assign GWM10/P1 to the 4th proximal phalanx of the left hand. Moreover, relating the 4th proximal phalanges of humans, African great apes, and Au. afarensis, to GWM10/P1 demonstrates that this phalanx is long, curved, and with many shape similarities to the 4th manual proximal phalanx of chimpanzees. These features show that the Ar. ramidus hand had arboreal function and support the hypothesis that this species was a careful climber.
Scott Simpson (Advisor)
123 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • mcdermott, Y. P. (2019). Morphological Characterization of Fossil GWM10/P1, a Proximal Manual Phalanx of Ardipthecus ramidus [Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1544201452429943

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • mcdermott, yvonne. Morphological Characterization of Fossil GWM10/P1, a Proximal Manual Phalanx of Ardipthecus ramidus. 2019. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1544201452429943.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • mcdermott, yvonne. "Morphological Characterization of Fossil GWM10/P1, a Proximal Manual Phalanx of Ardipthecus ramidus." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1544201452429943

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)