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An ancient human congenator known as " Little Foot " likely walk more like a chimpanzee than like a modern human .
small Foot is an exceptionally well - save femaleAustralopithecus — a genus in the human kinsfolk tree — date to 3.67 million geezerhood ago . Her cheeseparing - complete skeleton , see in a cave in South Africa in 1994 , was finally excavated in December after a 20 - year movement ( which the scientists key out asa " miracle " ) , and closeanalysis of her skullenabled scientist to create 3D models of the tiny structures in her inner spike .
Virtual rendering of the inner ear of Little Foot.
This " bony labyrinth " holds important clue about balance and campaign , researchers reported in a new report . In shape , Little Foot ’s inside - ear bodily structure is " substantially different " from earlyHomospecies , suggesting that she moved other than — perhaps more like our closest primate relatives , chimpanzees . [ In pic : ' Little Foot ' Human Ancestor take the air With Lucy ]
Because Little Foot ’s skeleton is so well - carry on , it presents scientists with a unequaled opportunity to investigateAustralopithecus’bipedallocomotion . Experts have previously interpret how early hominins moved byexamining skeletal featuressuch as the length and shape of branch ivory , and the contour of the feet , pelvis and spur .
However , the shape of the inner ear , which is critical for balance , can also provide worthful information about locomotion . In humankind , the inner ear evolved to facilitate " unique natural process " like running , and the configuration of Little Foot ’s inner ear offered similar insights intoAustralopithecusmovement , lead field of study author Amélie Beaudet , a research worker with the School of Geography , Archaeology and Environmental Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa , saidin a statement .
Distinctly “ape-like”
For the discipline , the researcher scan the interior of Little Foot ’s skull and used the data to construct 3D models of her inner auricle . They then equate the model with the inner ear of 17 early hominin specimens , 10 extant humans and 10 chimpanzee .
The scientist chance on that Little Foot’sear canalsdiffered greatly from those in human ears , and they were also very different from another hominin group known asParanthropus , which hold up at the same time as early humans . In fact , Little Foot ’s canals were distinctly " ape - like , " resemble those of chimpanzees . This advise that the wayAustralopithecusmoved belike had something in coarse with chimpanzee , according to the study .
" Our analysis of the inner ear might be compatible with the theory that footling Foot and theAustralopithecusspecimens in general were walking on two legs on the ground but also spent some time in the Tree , " Beaudet said .
The shape of Little Foot’scochlea — a earreach organ deep inside the ear that smell out vibrations — also differed from that inHomospecies , implying thatAustralopithecusinteracted with their environment differently than their human cousins , the researcher reported .
" This organ is colligate to level-headed perception and to ecological factor such as dieting , home ground or communication , " Beaudet said in the statement . " Little Foot differed in this regard with other members of our own genus , imply some difference in conduct . "
The findings were published online in the February 2019 issue of theJournal of Human Evolution .
Original clause onLive Science .
