Final answer:
Lucy's bones suggest that Australopithecus afarensis walked bipedally but with a gait different from modern humans, indicating adaptations for both arboreal life and terrestrial, bipedal locomotion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lucy's bones have provided significant insights into the locomotion of Australopithecus afarensis. Lucy, an adult female skeleton dated to about 3.2 million years ago, had certain morphological features like a pelvis similar to that of modern humans, indicating bipedal movement. In contrast, she also had long arms and curved fingers and toes, traits associated with climbing and life in the trees. The Laetoli footprints, likely made by A. afarensis, suggest a gait similar to modern humans. These findings imply that while Lucy and her species moved on two legs, their mode of bipedalism differed from that of modern humans, supporting the theory that A. afarensis was adapted for both arboreal life and walking on the ground.