Locomotion
obtained from: http://smault23.deviantart.com/art/skeleton-dancing-459443929
-no post crania with the Black Skull and Australopithecus aethiopicus
-robust australopithecines were bipedal, not as good at bipedality as humans.
-"Pieces of the back- bone, pelvis, lower limb, and foot indicate that the "robust" australopithecines were capable bipeds." Rightmire (1989)
-Finding evidence on the locomotion of robust australopithecines has been difficult, this is the first article I have found that discusses their locomotion. However, all of the other articles I have read, along with what I have learned in class, agrees that all australopithecines were bipedal. While looking at australopithecine skulls you can tell they were bipeds by the placement of the foremen magnum at the bottom of the skull.
All information obtained from Rightmire, G. Philip. (1989) Review: Species of Near-Humans. Science, 1514(4925), 514.
The robust australopiths likely were rather similar to the gracile line in post-cranial anatomy, so they would likely move with the same gait as the gracile line. I wonder how confident their bipedal stride would have been?
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