Evidence of upright walking found in 7-million-year-old Sahelanthropus fossils
Phys.org••general
Key Points:
- New research provides strong evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis, a seven-million-year-old species, was bipedal, potentially making it the oldest known human ancestor with this trait.
- Using 3D technology and comparative analysis, scientists identified a unique femoral tubercle in Sahelanthropus linked to the iliofemoral ligament, crucial for upright walking and previously found only in hominins.
- Additional traits supporting bipedalism include femoral antetorsion, gluteal muscle structures, and a relatively long femur compared to the ulna, distinguishing Sahelanthropus from apes and aligning it closer to early hominins like Australopithecus.
