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overall, are the a. afarensis pelvis and femur more similar to apes or to humans? what evidence do you see, if any, for bipedal adaptations in a. afarensis?

User Marna
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Final answer:

The pelvis and femur of Australopithecus afarensis indicate a greater similarity to humans with adaptations for bipedal walking, evidenced by the pelvic structure and the angle of the femoral head and neck.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Australopithecus afarensis pelvis and femur are more similar to humans than to apes, providing evidence of bipedal adaptations. While A. afarensis had long arms and curved finger and toe bones similar to tree-dwelling apes, their pelvis was short and wide, resembling that of modern humans. This pelvic shape supports upright bipedal locomotion.

Additionally, the anterior position of the foramen magnum and the angle of the femoral head and neck in A. afarensis also indicate adaptations to walking on two legs. These morphological features, alongside the discovery of Laetoli footprints, suggest that while there were ape-like qualities, bipedalism was a prominent mode of movement for A. afarensis.

User VicR
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