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KSD-VP-1/1: Analysis of the Postcranial Skeleton Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography

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The Postcranial Anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology ((VERT))

Abstract

The KSD-VP-1/1 partial Australopithecus afarensis skeleton from Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia, provides an excellent opportunity to reconstruct various aspects of the paleobiology of Australopithecus. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan data were collected from each skeletal element. Three-dimensional reconstructions were used to visualize and quantify internal and external anatomical structures. The skeleton was heavily mineralized and preservation of the internal bone structures, such as the endosteal borders of diaphyseal cortical bone and the trabecular structure of the epiphyses was generally poor. The three-dimensional HRCT data also permitted the reconstruction of the pelvic girdle and the fragmented distal femur using rigid transformations of isosurface reconstructions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the editors, Y. Haile-Selassie and D. Su, for inviting us to contribute to this volume. Thanks also to J. Kappelman and K. Carlson, who provided constructive comments on an earlier version of this chapter. Grant sponsorship: National Science Foundation BCS-1124713 (T.M.R.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Timothy M. Ryan & Simone Sukhdeo

  2. Center for Quantitative Imaging, EMS Energy Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Timothy M. Ryan

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  1. Timothy M. Ryan
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  2. Simone Sukhdeo
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Correspondence to Timothy M. Ryan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept Physical Anthropology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Yohannes Haile-Selassie

  2. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Denise F. Su

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Ryan, T.M., Sukhdeo, S. (2016). KSD-VP-1/1: Analysis of the Postcranial Skeleton Using High-Resolution Computed Tomography. In: Haile-Selassie, Y., Su, D. (eds) The Postcranial Anatomy of Australopithecus afarensis. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7429-1_4

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