Special CollectionAustralopithecus sediba
INTRODUCTION—The site of Malapa, South Africa, has yielded perhaps the richest assemblage of early hominin fossils on the continent of
Africa. The fossil remains of Au. sediba were discovered in August of 2008, and the species was named in 2010. In 2011, detailed studies of four critical areas of
anatomy of these remains were published in Science, and a refined date of ~1.977 to 1.98 Ma was proposed for their age. In 2013, Science presents six articles that complete the initial examination of the prepared material attributed to three individuals: the
holotype and paratype skeletons, commonly referred to as MH1 and MH2, and the adult isolated tibia referred to as MH4. They,
along with the cumulative research published over the past 3 years, provide us with a comprehensive examination of the anatomy
of a single species of early hominin.
From Science — 12 April 2013
Introduction
L. R. Berger
Report
J. D. Irish et al.
Dental traits in Au. sediba suggest that the species is part of a southern African clade, and distinct from east African australopiths.
Report
D. J. de Ruiter et al.
Au. sediba mandibles share features of those of other australopiths, but in some respects are similar to those of early Homo.
Research Article
S. E. Churchill et al.
The upper limb of Au. sediba is largely primitive in its morphology and appears well suited for arboreal climbing.
Research Article
P. Schmid et al.
Remains of the rib cage of Au. sediba suggest a conical thorax with a high shoulder joint and an ape-like "shrugged" shoulder appearance.
Research Article
S. A. Williams et al.
Au. sediba had the same number of lumbar vertebrae as modern humans but possessed a functionally longer and more flexible lower back.
Research Article
J. M. DeSilva et al.
The lower limb anatomy of Au. sediba is consistent with bipedalism and a hyperpronating gait.
From Science — 9 September 2011
News Focus
A. Gibbons
Partial skeletons of 2-million-year-old hominin Australopithecus sediba leave researchers impressed by their completeness but scratching their heads over the implications for our family tree.
News Focus
M. Balter
After a career marked by controversy, Lee Berger hopes new hominin fossils will salvage his mixed scientific reputation.
News Focus
M. Balter
After nearly 15 years of excavation, the most complete hominin skeleton ever discovered, dubbed "Little Foot," is expected
to be out of the cave in which it was discovered within the next 2 months.
Report
K. J. Carlson et al.
The brain endocast of Australopithecus sediba shows that despite retaining a small brain size, some reorganization of the frontal lobe had commenced, hinting at the later
neural development seen in Homo.
Report
J. M. Kibii et al.
Although it had a small brain and skull, Australopithecus sediba shows some human-like features in its reconstructed pelvis.
Report
T. L. Kivell et al.
The hand of Australopithecus sediba, a rare example in the hominid fossil record, shows short fingers and a long thumb consistent with improved precision gripping
while retaining strength for climbing.
Report
B. Zipfel et al.
Australopithecus sediba had a human-like ankle and arch but an ape-like heel and tibia, implying that while bipedal, this species was also adept
at climbing trees.
Report
R. Pickering et al.
Further U-series dating and the magnetic stratigraphy of the hosting cave deposits show that Australopithecus sediba lived just under 2 million years ago, near or just before the emergence of Homo.
From Science — 9 April 2010
News of the Week
M. Balter
Researchers describe a group of fossils found since 2008 in Malapa cave north of Johannesburg and dated as early as 2 million
years ago, which they say may be the best candidate yet for the immediate ancestor of our genus, Homo.
Research Article
L. R. Berger et al.
A new species of Australopithecus, about 1.9 million years old, shows many derived features with Homo, helping to reveal its evolution.
Research Article
P. H. G. M. Dirks et al.
A new species of Australopithecus, about 1.9 million years old, shows many derived features with Homo, helping to reveal its evolution.
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