Sentences with phrase «africanus thumb»

An example of a human precision grip, grasping an Australopithecus africanus thumb bone dating to 3.2 million years ago.

Not exact matches

The research, titled «Human - like hand use in Australopithecus africanus, shows that Australopithecus africanus,» a 3 - 2 million - year - old species from South Africa traditionally considered not to have engaged in habitual tool manufacture, has a human - like trabecular bone pattern in the bones of the thumb and palm (the metacarpals) consistent with forceful opposition of the thumb and fingers typically adopted during tool use.

Here we show that Australopithecus africanus (~ 3 to 2 million years ago) and several Pleistocene hominins, traditionally considered not to have engaged in habitual tool manufacture, have a human - like trabecular bone pattern in the metacarpals consistent with forceful opposition of the thumb and fingers typically adopted during tool use.