Special issue: Australopithecus sediba --- The Pelvis of Australopithecus sediba

Abstract

Pelvic remains of two individuals of Australopithecus sediba—a subadult male (MH1) and an adult female (MH2)—have been recovered from early Pleistocene deposits at Malapa Cave in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The pelvis of MH1 is represented by partial right and left ilia, a left ischium, and the left pubic symphysis, while that of MH2 is represented by a partial right os coxae (lacking the ischium and a portion of the iliac blade), a fragmentary left pubis, and a partial sacrum. Together these remains document pelvic morphology that was similar in some re-spects to that of other known species of Australopithecus (e.g., in having relatively small sacral and acetabular joint surfaces, a relatively long pubis, and, in at least one individual, an anteriorly positioned and weakly developed acetabulocristal buttress), while being more like that of most species of the genus Homo in others (e.g., in having greater sigmoid curvature and a more sagittal orientation of the iliac blades, increased buttressing of the lower iliac body [acetabulosacral buttress], and a shortened ischium with a narrow tuberoacetabular sulcus). This mosaic of australopith-like and Homo-like morphology in the pelvis of Au. sediba parallels the morphological pattern seen throughout the cranial and postcranial skeleton of this late australopith.This special issue is guest-edited by Scott A. Williams (Department of Anthropology, New York University) and-Jeremy M. DeSilva (Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College). This is article #6 of 9.