Functional Morphology of the Scaphoid in Extant African Apes, Humans and Fossil Hominins
Results confirm previous studies describing differences between extant African apes and modern human scaphoids that were interpreted as advantageous for knuckle-walking and forceful manipulation, respectively. However, we highlight greater variation between Pan and Gorilla than previously recognized. The fossil hominin scaphoids present differing mosaics of joint orientation and shape, creating a distinct overall morphology in each hominin species. This may reflect differing functional pressures acting upon hominin wrists resulting from disparate combinations of locomotor and manipulative behaviors.
Authors
- Antonio Rosas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5829-9952)
- Thomas W. Davies (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3616-3832)
- Ameline Bardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1840-6423)
- Tracy L. Kivell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5087-0897)
- Matthew M. Skinner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8321-3543)
- Nadine G. Steer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1598-6518)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Vienna (AT)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- University of Kent (GB)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (ES)
- Musée de l'Homme (FR)
- University of Missouri (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Biological Anthropology
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.70157
- Primary Topic
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00