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Evolution and function of the hominin forefoot.

Peter J Fernández1,2, Carrie S Mongle3, Louise Leakey4,5

  • 1Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794; pedro.fernandez@marquette.edu.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 15, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Human feet evolved for bipedalism, unlike other primates. Early hominin foot evolution shows lateral digits were key for propulsion, with a modern-like hallux appearing late.

Keywords:
Ardipithecusbipedalismfunctional morphologyhominin evolutionmetatarsals

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Primate Anatomy
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Primate feet are adapted for grasping, maximizing power and stability.
  • Human feet are unique, adapted for bipedal locomotion.
  • Metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) morphology is crucial for bipedalism, but hominin MTPJ analysis is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comprehensive analysis of hominin metatarsophalangeal joint morphology.
  • To investigate the evolutionary trajectory of early hominin foot morphology.
  • To understand the role of specific bony features in the evolution of terrestrial bipedalism.

Main Methods:

  • Multivariate shape analysis of metatarsals (MTs) from anthropoid primates and early hominins.
  • Bayesian phylogenetic comparative analyses incorporating fossil data, including Ardipithecus ramidus.
  • Reconstruction of ancestral states for metatarsophalangeal joint morphology.

Main Results:

  • Dorsal metatarsal head expansion and 'doming' are confirmed as important for hominin bipedalism.
  • Ardipithecus ramidus MT1 morphology deviates from the last common ancestor's optimum, but not towards modern humans.
  • Lateral rays of Ardipithecus ramidus show human-like transformations, indicating early recruitment for terrestrial propulsion.

Conclusions:

  • Early hominin foot evolution was mosaic, with lateral digits adapting for propulsion before the modern hallux.
  • The derived, modern human hallux evolved relatively late in human evolutionary history.
  • This study highlights the gradual and complex evolutionary process of the hominin foot.