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DeSilva, J and Grabowski, M (2020) Femur. In: Zipfel, B, Richmond, B and Ward, C, (eds.) Hominin Postcranial Remains from Sterkfontein, South Africa, 1936-1995. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780197507667
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Abstract
This chapter provides a detailed description of the Sterkfontein hominin femora and additional comparative and functional interpretations of these fossils, all of which are incomplete but still provide important information. While some have postulated that the differences among Sterkfontein femora reflect taxonomic differences, we regard these as large and small versions of the same general morphology. Multiple taxa may have been present at Sterkfontein; we just do not see evidence for it in the femora. However, while the distal femur of Australopithecus africanus is similar to that found in A. afarensis, the proximal femur is not. Sterkfontein Member 4 femora have relatively longer and more compressed femoral necks than their east African comparators, and a large femoral head to femoral neck ratio. Whether these subtle morphological differences reflect differences in substrate use, reflect differences in locomotor kinematics, or result in functional equivalency remains unclear.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology Q Science > QM Human anatomy Q Science > QP Physiology |
| Divisions: | Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Feb 2021 12:30 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Sep 2021 23:13 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1093/oso/9780197507667.003.0012 |
| Editors: | Zipfel, B, Richmond, B and Ward, C |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14389 |
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