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Science 2 October 2009:
Vol. 326. no. 5949, pp. 70, 70e1-70e8
DOI: 10.1126/science.1175827
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Research Articles

Careful Climbing in the Miocene: The Forelimbs of Ardipithecus ramidus and Humans Are Primitive

C. Owen Lovejoy,1,* Scott W. Simpson,2 Tim D. White,3,* Berhane Asfaw,4 Gen Suwa5

The Ardipithecus ramidus hand and wrist exhibit none of the derived mechanisms that restrict motion in extant great apes and are reminiscent of those of Miocene apes, such as Proconsul. The capitate head is more palmar than in all other known hominoids, permitting extreme midcarpal dorsiflexion. Ar. ramidus and all later hominids lack the carpometacarpal articular and ligamentous specializations of extant apes. Manual proportions are unlike those of any extant ape. Metacarpals 2 through 5 are relatively short, lacking any morphological traits associable with knuckle-walking. Humeral and ulnar characters are primitive and like those of later hominids. The Ar. ramidus forelimb complex implies palmigrady during bridging and careful climbing and exhibits none of the adaptations to vertical climbing, forelimb suspension, and knuckle-walking that are seen in extant African apes.

1 Department of Anthropology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240-0001, USA.
2 Department of Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106-4930, USA.
3 Human Evolution Research Center, and Department of Integrative Biology, 3101 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
4 Rift Valley Research Service, Post Office Box 5717, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
5 The University Museum, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: olovejoy{at}aol.com (C.O.L.); timwhite{at}berkeley.edu (T.D.W.)

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Ardipithecus ramidus and the Paleobiology of Early Hominids.
T. D. White, B. Asfaw, Y. Beyene, Y. Haile-Selassie, C. O. Lovejoy, G. Suwa, and G. WoldeGabriel (2009)
Science 326, 64-64, 75-86
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Ardipithecus ramidus Skull and Its Implications for Hominid Origins.
G. Suwa, B. Asfaw, R. T. Kono, D. Kubo, C. O. Lovejoy, and T. D. White (2009)
Science 326, 68-68, 68e1-68e7
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Pelvis and Femur of Ardipithecus ramidus: The Emergence of Upright Walking.
C. O. Lovejoy, G. Suwa, L. Spurlock, B. Asfaw, and T. D. White (2009)
Science 326, 71-71, 71e1-71e6
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Combining Prehension and Propulsion: The Foot of Ardipithecus ramidus.
C. O. Lovejoy, B. Latimer, G. Suwa, B. Asfaw, and T. D. White (2009)
Science 326, 72-72, 72e1-72e8
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Great Divides: Ardipithecus ramidus Reveals the Postcrania of Our Last Common Ancestors with African Apes.
C. O. Lovejoy, G. Suwa, S. W. Simpson, J. H. Matternes, and T. D. White (2009)
Science 326, 73-73, 100-106
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Reexamining Human Origins in Light of Ardipithecus ramidus.
C. O. Lovejoy (2009)
Science 326, 74-74, 74e1-74e8
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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