The femur in early human evolution

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Abstract
Uni‐ and multivariate analyses of 5 fossil and 215 extant hominoid femora show that two morphological patterns of hominid femora existed about two million years ago. Femora classified asHomosp. indet. (KNMER 1472 and 1481) are more likeHomo sapiensalthough not identical. Those classified asAustralopithecus robustus(SK 82 and 97) andA. boisei(KNM‐ER 1503) are similar to one another but uniquely different from any living hominoid. The strong mophological contrasts imply biomechanical and possible locomotor differences, although these are as yet unknown.