Final answer:
Australopithecus afarensis was an early hominin species with long, curved fingers suggesting it was arboreal, but its pelvis shape and other morphology indicate bipedal capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Australopithecus afarensis refers to an early hominin species that existed between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago. The physical features of A. afarensis suggest it was both tree-dwelling (arboreal) and bipedal (ground-living). The species had long and curved fingers and toes, which are indicators of an arboreal lifestyle, as these adaptations are typical for animals that hang from branches. However, the structure of A. afarensis's pelvis is more human-like, being short and wide, which along with other evidence such as a more anterior position of the foramen magnum and the angle of the femoral head and neck, suggests that A. afarensis also had the capability for bipedal locomotion. Nonetheless, their movement on the ground would not have been identical to that of modern humans.