Inferences about fossil hominin locomotion through 3D morphometric analysis of wrist ligament insertion sites

Understanding the evolution of wrist anatomy in fossil hominins is essential for reconstructing their locomotor behavior and manipulative capabilities. Traditionally, most studies have focused on bone morphology, overlooking the informative potential of soft tissue attachment sites. In this study, w...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Casado, Aroa, Martinez-Liria, Xavier, San Millán, Marta, Menés, Laura, Ciurana, Neus, García-Cuesta, Marcel, Rodríguez, Patrícia, Pastor, Francisco, Cabo, Roberto, Potau, Josep Maria
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Recursos:TecnoCampus
Repositorio:Repositori Digital del TecnoCampus
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:rdtecnocamp_::edd54f8026403cc46c893a298ab8d2f5
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12367/3247
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Wrist anatomy
Ligament insertions
Hominin evolution
Locomotor behavior
Geometric morphometrics
Fossil primates
Descrição
Resumo:Understanding the evolution of wrist anatomy in fossil hominins is essential for reconstructing their locomotor behavior and manipulative capabilities. Traditionally, most studies have focused on bone morphology, overlooking the informative potential of soft tissue attachment sites. In this study, we introduce a novel approach based on the three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of ligament insertion sites on the distal radial epiphysis. We analyzed a comparative sample including fossil hominins—Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus anamensis, Australopithecus sediba, Paranthropus robustus, Homo neanderthalensis, and archaic Homo sapiens—as well as extant hominoids: Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus. The results show marked interspecies differences in the size, orientation, and position of specific ligament insertions, reflecting divergent functional adaptations. [...]