Assessment Questions 3.6

1. How do the Laetoli footprints compare to those of modern humans, and what features do they exhibit?

The Laetoli footprints are virtually indistinguishable from footprints of a modern human. They exhibit the typical pattern of a human foot, a humanlike arch, and lack any hint of the divergent big toe that characterizes apes.

2. How is bipedality determined by the location of the foramen magnum, and what is its position in bipeds and quadrupeds?

The location of the foramen magnum determines the position of the vertebral column, indicating whether a species is quadrupedal or bipedal. In quadrupeds, it is toward the back, while in bipeds, it is at the bottom.

3. What is mentioned about the foramen magnum in fossil hominin crania, and how does it relate to locomotion?

Fossil hominin crania, as far back as Sahelanthropus, possess a foramen magnum located at the base of the cranium, in nearly the same position as in modern human beings, indicating bipedal locomotion.