Sahelanthropus tchadensis, aged 7 million years, was bipedal. Anthropologists announced this in the journal Science Advances, examining features of its femur using 3D technologies.
Researchers identified a femoral tubercle on Sahelanthropus—a site for attaching a ligament crucial for upright walking, previously seen only in hominids. The analysis also revealed the characteristic curve of the femur and the structure of the gluteal muscles that aid in ambulation.
“Sahelanthropus tchadensis was essentially a creature that walked on two legs, possessing a brain capacity similar to that of a chimpanzee, and likely spent considerable time in trees gathering sustenance and seeking refuge,” states study leader Scott Williams from New York University. “Despite its appearance, Sahelanthropus was adapted for assuming an upright posture and moving across the ground.”
Fossil remains of Sahelanthropus were discovered in Chad in the early 2000s. For a long period, scientists debated whether this species practiced bipedalism, which directly influenced its classification as a potential earliest human ancestor. The new study also determined that the relative length of its femur is similar to that of a later human precursor—Australopithecus.
About the Author
