Combining Prehension and Propulsion: The Foot of Ardipithecus ramidus

摘要

The special foot adaptations that enable humans to walk upright and run are central to understanding our evolution. Until the discovery of Ardipithecus ramidus, it was generally thought that our foot evolved from one similar to that of modern African apes. Apes have feet that are modified to support their large bodies and to facilitate vertical climbing, thus allowing them to feed, nest, and seek safety in trees.