• 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 131  (SEP) , 275-298
Abstract
The fossil record supports the conclusions derived from the study of extant species that the Primates evolved a unique suite of characters in the foot articulations. The subtalar joint complex in Early Miocene apes retained a primitive, putatively arboreal morphology. The variety of forms presented by the cuboid articular surfaces of the calcanei of these early hominoids provides reasonable precursors of the characteristic morphologies exhibited by Pan, Gorilla and Pongo. The OH8 foot was essentially ape-like in its major features, with very close resemblances to Pan. Apparently from a bipedal primate, it lacked important fundamental specializations found in the human foot.