Re: The terminal thumb phalanx of Orrorin tugenensis

Dar Habel:
Mario Petrinovich:
Marc Verhaegen:
Certain of the anatomical characters classically associated with
manipulation and/or fabrication of tools are already present in the
Late Miocene
species Orrorin tugenensis as shown by the terminal thumb phalanx BAR
1901'
01. This specimen reveals crucial information suggesting that
thumb morphology is not exclusively related to such tool using and
manufacturing activities but reflects in a frequently bipedal creature
a deeper
adaptation concerning the precision grip essential for climbing and
balancing, different from that of apes.

Yes. Cliff hanging. Stone gripping. Climbing vertical surfaces.
Climbing sea cliffs.

Considering the geographical context of Orrorin in the Rift Valley of
Kenya, climbing sea cliffs might not be an option.
Thanks, Marc. You have some paper, abstract?

Try:
http://tinyurl.com/zgcfk

I did find some paper about this, but I had no time to read it.
Anyway, I'll write few words.
First, where did Orrorin came from? They've noticed some
similarities between hominids and Miocene apes (Ill be surprised if
Ouranopithecus isn't one of us). Which were around Mediterranean sea. Sea
cliffs and water.
I didn't find time to take a closer look, but from what I remember
from what I've read before, both the Great Rift Valley and the Red Sea
formed by similar ways. First it was the Red Sea, some 35mya, then it was
the Great Rift Valley, some 15mya (if I didn't confuse something). From what
I remember, there was some uplifting and downlifting, and such things. From
what I remember, there was some vertical surfaces (were those cliffs?), and
there is a lot of water, both in Red Sea (of course), and in Great Rift
Valley (also, of course).
Now, if you imagine some biped that evolved the way I am claiming
(cliffs and water), the natural way they would spread would be =>Red Sea =>
Great Rift Valley.
BTW, thanks for the link, but I have no 30$ to spend on this. Maybe
I'll find some other way to examine this info. -- Mario


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