Extinct Human Relative from 'Miracle' Excavation Moved Like a Chimp
By Mindy Weisberger, Senior Writer | January 10, 2019 11:31am ET
An ancient human relative known as "Little Foot" likely walked more like a chimpanzee than like a modern human.
Little Foot is an exceptionally well-preserved female Australopithecus — a genus in the human family tree — dating to 3.67 million years ago. Her near-complete skeleton, discovered in a cave in South Africa in 1994, was finally excavated in December after a 20-year effort (which the scientists described as a "miracle"), and close analysis of her skull enabled scientists to create 3D models of the tiny structures in her inner ear.
This "bony labyrinth" holds important clues about balance and movement, researchers reported in a new study. In shape, Little Foot's inner-ear structure is "substantially different" from early Homo species, suggesting that she moved differently — perhaps more like our closest primate relatives, chimpanzees. [In Photos: 'Little Foot' Human Ancestor Walked With Lucy]
https://www.livescience.com/64464-little-foot-moved-like-chimps.html
