Final answer:
Lucy, a member of Australopithecus afarensis, did not walk in a manner identical to modern bonobos. She had a mix of ape-like and human-like features that suggest she walked bipedally but also spent time climbing trees.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: Lucy probably walked in a manner that was similar to modern bonobos. The correct answer is False. Although there are similarities between Australopithecus afarensis and modern bonobos—both are primates and have certain morphological traits in common—the way Lucy, a member of Australopithecus afarensis, moved was quite different from how modern bonobos locomote today.
Australopithecus afarensis is characterized by a mixture of ape-like features such as longer arms and curved finger and toe bones, and human-like features, particularly in the shape of the pelvis. These aspects suggest that while Lucy may have spent time in the trees, she primarily walked on two legs, a form of bipedal locomotion. However, due to differences in other skeletal features, the bipedalism of Lucy was unique and not identical to that of modern humans or bonobos. The shape of Lucy's pelvis indicates a movement pattern akin to humans but the elongated arms and curved digits suggest climbing abilities more reminiscent of great apes.