Naslov
Morphological variation of the hominid navicular bone: Implications for behavioral driven divergence

Autori
Sorrentino, Rita ; Carlson, Kristian J. ; Orr, Caley M. ; Pietrobelli, Annalisa ; Figus, Carla ; Jashashvili, Tea ; Saers, Jaap. P.P. ; Guarnieri, Tiziana ; Fiorenza, Luca ; Novak, Mario ; Stock, Jay T. ; Williams, Scott A. ; Patel, Biren A. ; Marchi, Damiano ; Belcastro, Maria Giovanna ; Benazzi, Stefano

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Skup
11th Symposium on Morphometrics and Evolution of Shape

Mjesto i datum
Montpellier, Francuska, 30.06.2021. - 02.07.2021

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
navicular, foot bones, hominids, locomotion, longitudinal arch

Sažetak
Morphology of hominid foot bones has received focused attention in paleoanthropological studies because of distinctive traits that are purportedly related to locomotor behaviors. In particular, the navicular is thought to preserve signatures of the medial longitudinal arch that uniquely characterizes the foot of Homo sapiens (among extant taxa), as well as distinctive morphological features that reflect habitual locomotor modes of hominids (great apes and humans). However, it is still debated what should be considered uniquely characteristic of human naviculars. This study reevaluates the distinctive traits of human naviculars that are presumably linked to locomotor behaviors by comparing naviculars of 21 Pongo, 35 Gorilla, 46 Pan and 221 H. sapiens accounting for different levels of mobility and subsistence strategies. Navicular shape was captured using a 3D template of 85 (semi)landmarks and analyzed through Geometric Morphometric methods. After Generalized Procrustes analysis, differences in shape coordinates were explored with Principal Component analysis and statistically evaluated with Procrustes ANOVA. Centroid size was used to investigate overall size differences and its contribution to shape variation (allometry). Navicular shape significantly differentiates Pongo, Gorilla, Pan, and H. sapiens. Alongside of size variation, it is possible to observe a subtle allometric effect that distinguishes H. sapiens from great apes. H. sapiens appears unique by showing a proximo-distally broader navicular body, a coronal displacement of cuneiform facets and a less medial-laterally elongated talar facet in respect to the navicular transversal length. We suggest that this morphology may reflect the presence of the medial longitudinal arch, therefore may be ultimately linked to our obligate bipedal locomotion. Human and non-human African great apes show a relative larger tuberosity than Pongo likely related to terrestrial locomotion. This preliminary contribution can be considered as a source for future studies aimed to investigate fossil hominin naviculars and their inferred locomotor behaviors.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Arheologija

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