A5034968874- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Hemispheric Asymmetry in Neuroscience
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
- Motor Control and Adaptation
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
- Bone Metabolism and Diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Anatomy and Medical Technology
- Robotic Locomotion and Control
- Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction
- Surgical Simulation and Training
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2016-2025
University of Kent
2015-2024
University of the Witwatersrand
2015-2024
Max Planck Society
2012-2021
University of Strathclyde
2019
University College London
2018
Leipzig University
2018
Pennsylvania State University
2018
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2015-2017
Duke University
2009-2010
Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin discovered within the Dinaledi Chamber Rising Star cave system, Cradle Humankind, South Africa. This characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied human populations but small endocranial volume australopiths. Cranial morphology H. unique, most early including erectus, habilis or rudolfensis. While primitive, dentition generally simple in occlusal morphology. has humanlike manipulatory adaptations hand wrist. It...
The hand of Australopithecus sediba , a rare example in the hominid fossil record, shows short fingers and long thumb consistent with improved precision gripping while retaining strength for climbing.
Despite decades of debate, it remains unclear whether human bipedalism evolved from a terrestrial knuckle-walking ancestor or more generalized, arboreal ape ancestor. Proponents the hypothesis focused on wrist and hand to find morphological evidence this behavior in fossil record. These studies, however, have not examined variation development purported features apes other primates, data that are critical resolution long-standing debate. Here we present novel frequency putative monkeys. We...
The distinctly human ability for forceful precision and power "squeeze" gripping is linked to two key evolutionary transitions in hand use: a reduction arboreal climbing the manufacture use of tools. However, it unclear when these locomotory manipulative occurred. Here we show that Australopithecus africanus (~3 2 million years ago) several Pleistocene hominins, traditionally considered not have engaged habitual tool manufacture, human-like trabecular bone pattern metacarpals consistent with...
Significance The human skeleton is unique in having low trabecular density representing a lightly built body form. However, it remains unknown when during evolution this characteristic first appeared. To our knowledge, study the to examine bone throughout of fossil hominins spanning several million years. results show that remained high until decreased significantly recent modern humans, suggesting possible link between changes and increased sedentism.
The Rising Star cave system has produced abundant fossil hominin remains within the Dinaledi Chamber, representing a minimum of 15 individuals attributed to Homo naledi. Further exploration led discovery material, now comprising 131 specimens, second chamber, Lesedi Chamber. Chamber is far separated from system, and represents depositional context for remains. In each three collection areas diagnostic skeletal material allows clear attribution H. Both adult immature present. represent at...
Abstract A nearly complete right hand of an adult hominin was recovered from the Rising Star cave system, South Africa. Based on associated material, bones this are attributed to Homo naledi . This reveals a long, robust thumb and derived wrist morphology that is shared with Neandertals modern humans, considered adaptive for intensified manual manipulation. However, finger longer more curved than in most australopiths, indicating frequent use during life strong grasping locomotor climbing...
Bone is capable of adapting during life in response to stress. Therefore, variation locomotor and manipulative behaviours across extant hominoids may be reflected differences trabecular bone structure. The hand a promising region for analysis, as it the direct contact between individual environment joint positions at peak loading vary amongst hominoids. Building upon traditional volume interest-based analyses, we apply whole-epiphysis analytical approach using high-resolution...
Primates, and particularly humans, are characterized by superior manual dexterity compared with other mammals. However, drawing the biomechanical link between hand morphology/behaviour functional capabilities in non-human primates fossil taxa has been challenging. We present a kinematic model of thumb-index precision grip manipulative movement based on bony morphology broad sample extant hominins. The reveals that both joint mobility digit proportions (scaled to size) critical for...
There has been an enduring interest in primate tool-use and manipulative abilities, most often with the goal of providing insight into evolution human manual dexterity, right-hand preference, what behaviours make humans unique. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are arguably well-studied tool-users amongst non-human primates, particularly well-known for their complex nut-cracking behaviour, which documented several West African populations. However, sister-taxon, bonobos paniscus), rarely engage...
Micro-computed tomographic analyses of trabecular bone architecture have been used to clarify the link between positional behavior and skeletal anatomy in primates. However, there are methodological decisions associated with quantifying comparing across taxa that vary greatly body size morphology can affect characterizations architecture, such as choice volume interest (VOI) location. The potential effects these may be amplified small, irregular-shaped bones hands feet more complex external...
Although much is known about the terrestrial locomotion of great apes, their arboreal has been studied less extensively. This study investigates in bonobos (Pan paniscus), focusing on gait characteristics and spatio-temporal variables associated with a pole. These features are compared across different substrate inclinations (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°), horizontal quadrupedal walking between an substrate. Our results show greater variation footfall patterns increasing incline, resulting more...
Abstract Aspects of trabecular bone architecture are thought to reflect regional loading the skeleton, and thus differ between primate taxa with different locomotor postural modes. However, there several systemic factors that affect structure could contribute to, or be primary factor determining, interspecific differences in structure. These include genetic regulation, sensitivity loading, hormone levels, diet, activity levels. Improved understanding inter‐/intraspecific variability,...
Neandertals disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 bp, after a demographic history of small and isolated groups with high but variable levels inbreeding, episodes interbreeding other Paleolithic hominins. It is reasonable to expect that endogamy could be expressed in skeleton at least some Neandertal groups. Genetic studies indicate 13 individuals site El Sidrón, Spain, dated 49,000 constituted closely related kin group, making these an appropriate case study for observation...
Although hand grip strength is critical to the daily lives of humans and our arboreal great ape relatives, human has changed in form function throughout evolution due terrestrial bipedalism, tool use, directional asymmetry (DA) such as handedness. Here we investigate how interact modern gain an insight into evolutionary past. We measured a heterogeneous, cross-sectional sample participants (n = 662, 17 83 years old) test potential effects age, sex, (hand dominance handedness), shape,...
Bipedalism, a defining feature of the human lineage, is thought to have evolved as forests retreated in late Miocene-Pliocene. Chimpanzees living analogous habitats early hominins offer unique opportunity investigate ecological drivers bipedalism that cannot be addressed via fossil record alone. We investigated positional behavior and terrestriality savanna-mosaic community chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Issa Valley, Tanzania first test ape hypothesis wooded, savanna were...
Abstract For comparative 3D μCT studies of trabecular bone, the use a volume interest (VOI) scaled to body size may avoid over‐sampling mass in smaller versus larger‐bodied taxa and comparison regions that are not functionally homologous (Fajardo Müller: Am J Phys Anthropol 115 ( 2001 ) 327–336), though influence on quantitative analyses using nonscaled VOIs remains poorly characterized. We compare architectural properties reflecting mass, organization, orientation from three volumes (large,...
Abstract Objectives Humans display an 85–95% cross‐cultural right‐hand bias in skilled tasks, which is considered a derived behavior because such high frequency not reported wild non‐human primates. Handedness generally to be evolutionary byproduct of selection for manual dexterity and augmented visuo‐cognitive capabilities within the context complex stone tool manufacture/use. Testing this hypothesis requires understanding when appreciable levels right dominant entered fossil record....