Jeremy Desilva
Biographic Data
| ID | 627182 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jeremy Desilva |
| GIVEN NAMES | Jeremy |
| FAMILY NAME | Desilva |
| SIGNATURE | DESILVA J |
| AFFILIATIONS | Boston University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-7010-1155 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 39 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 409 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 39 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 11 |
Cover Image
A review of the distal femur in Australopithecus
In 1938, the first distal femur of a fossil Australopithecus was discovered at Sterkfontein, South Africa. A decade later, another distal femur was discovered at the same locality. These two fossil femora were the subject of a foundational paper authored by Kingsbury Heiple and Owen Lovejoy in 1971. In this paper, the authors discussed functionally relevant anatomies of these two fossil femora and noted their strong affinity to the modern human c…
Acheulean Handaxes in Medieval France: An Earlier ‘Modern’ Social History for Palaeolithic Bifaces
Handaxes have a uniquely prominent role in the history of Palaeolithic archaeology, and their early study provides crucial information concerning the epistemology of the field. We have little conclusive evidence, however, of their investigation or societal value prior to the mid seventeenth century. Here we investigate the shape, colour and potential flake scarring on a handaxe-like stone object seen in the Melun Diptych, painted by the French fi…
The Early Hominin Foot
Bipedal locomotion in zoo apes: Revisiting the hylobatian model for bipedal origins
Bipedal locomotion is a hallmark of being human. Yet the body form from which bipedalism evolved remains unclear. Specifically, the positional behaviour (i.e. orthograde vs. pronograde) and the length of the lumbar spine (i.e. long and mobile vs. short and stiff) of the last common ancestor (LCA) of the African great apes and humans require further investigation. While fossil evidence would be the most conclusive, the paucity of hominid fossils f…
Associated Australopithecus afarensis second and third metatarsals (A.L. 333-133) from Hadar, Ethiopia
One small step: A review of Plio‐Pleistocene hominin foot evolution
Bipedalism is a hallmark of being human and the human foot is modified to reflect this unique form of locomotion. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with calling the human foot “a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” However, a scientific approach to human origins has revealed that our feet are products of a long, evolutionary history in which a mobile, grasping organ has been converted into a propulsive structure adapted for the rigors of b…
Morphology of the Homo naledi femora from Lesedi
The Lesedi femora increase the range of variation of femoral morphology in H. naledi. Newly described features of the diaphysis and distal femur are either taxonomically uninformative or Homo-like. Overall, these three new femora are consistent with previous functional interpretations of the H. naledi lower limb as belonging to a species adapted for long distance walking and, possibly, running
Femoral neck and shaft structure in Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber (Rising Star System, South Africa)
The evolution of the human foot
There are 26 bones in each foot (52 in total), meaning that roughly a quarter of the human skeleton consists of foot bones. Yet, early hominin foot fossils are frustratingly rare, making it quite difficult to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the human foot. Despite the continued paucity of hominid or hominin foot fossils from the late Miocene and early Pliocene, the last decade has witnessed the discovery of an extraordinary number of earl…
A quantification of calcaneal lateral plantar process position with implications for bipedal locomotion in Australopithecus
New fossil remains of Homo naledi from the Lesedi Chamber, South Africa
The Rising Star cave system has produced abundant fossil hominin remains within the Dinaledi Chamber, representing a minimum of 15 individuals attributed to Homo naledi. Further exploration led to the discovery of hominin material, now comprising 131 hominin specimens, within a second chamber, the Lesedi Chamber. The Lesedi Chamber is far separated from the Dinaledi Chamber within the Rising Star cave system, and represents a second depositional …
The thigh and leg of Homo naledi
Virtual reconstruction of the Australopithecus africanus pelvis Sts 65 with implications for obstetrics and locomotion
The foot of Homo naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with …
Midtarsal break variation in modern humans: Functional causes, skeletal correlates, and paleontological implications
The midtarsal break was once treated as a dichotomous, non‐overlapping trait present in the foot of non‐human primates and absent in humans. Recent work indicates that there is considerable variation in human midfoot dorsiflexion, with some overlap with the ape foot. These findings have called into question the uniqueness of the human lateral midfoot, and the use of osteological features in fossil hominins to characterize the midfoot of our extin…
Skeletal development of hallucal tarsometatarsal joint curvature and angulation in extant apes and modern humans
A neonatal perspective on Homo erectus brain growth
The Lower Limb and Mechanics of Walking in Australopithecus sediba
The discovery of a relatively complete Australopithecus sediba adult female skeleton permits a detailed locomotor analysis in which joint systems can be integrated to form a comprehensive picture of gait kinematics in this late australopith. Here we describe the lower limb anatomy of Au. sediba and hypothesize that this species walked with a fully extended leg and with an inverted foot during the swing phase of bipedal walking. Initial contact of…
Brief communication: A midtarsal (midfoot) break in the human foot
The absence of a midtarsal break has long been regarded as a derived feature of the human foot. Humans possess a rigid midfoot that acts as an efficient lever during the propulsive phase of bipedal gait. Non‐human primates, in contrast, have a more mobile midfoot that is adaptive for tree climbing. Here, we report plantar pressure and video evidence that a small percentage of modern humans ( n = 32/398) possess both elevated lateral midfoot press…
Phenotypic Plasticity of Climbing-Related Traits in the Ankle Joint of Great Apes and Rainforest Hunter-Gatherers
The "negrito" and African "pygmy" phenotypes are predominately exhibited by hunter-gatherers living in rainforest habitats. Foraging within such habitats is associated with a unique set of locomotor behaviors, most notably habitual vertical climbing during the pursuit of honey, fruit, and game. When performed frequently, this behavior is expected to correlate with developmentally plastic skeletal morphologies that respond to mechanical loading. U…
Mojokerto revisited: Evidence for an intermediate pattern of brain growth in Homo erectus
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
The obstetric dilemma: An ancient game of Russian roulette, or a variable dilemma sensitive to ecology
The difficult birth process of humans, often described as the “obstetric dilemma,” is commonly assumed to reflect antagonistic selective pressures favoring neonatal encephalization and maternal bipedal locomotion. However, cephalo‐pelvic disproportion is not exclusive to humans, and is present in some primate species of smaller body size. The fossil record indicates mosaic evolution of the obstetric dilemma, involving a number of different evolut…
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
The thigh and leg of Homo naledi
The obstetric dilemma: An ancient game of Russian roulette, or a variable dilemma sensitive to ecology
The difficult birth process of humans, often described as the “obstetric dilemma,” is commonly assumed to reflect antagonistic selective pressures favoring neonatal encephalization and maternal bipedal locomotion. However, cephalo‐pelvic disproportion is not exclusive to humans, and is present in some primate species of smaller body size. The fossil record indicates mosaic evolution of the obstetric dilemma, involving a number of different evolut…
Brain size at birth throughout human evolution: A new method for estimating neonatal brain size in hominins
Revisiting the “midtarsal break”
The midtarsal break was first described in this journal nearly 75 years ago to explain the ability of non‐human primates to lift their heel independently of the rest of the foot. Since the initial description of the midtarsal break, the calcaneocuboid joint has been assumed to be the anatomical source of this motion. Recently, however, it has been suggested that the midtarsal break may occur at the cuboid‐metatarsal joint, rather than at the calc…
A comparative study of the trabecular bony architecture of the talus in humans, non-human primates, and Australopithecus
Phenotypic Plasticity of Climbing-Related Traits in the Ankle Joint of Great Apes and Rainforest Hunter-Gatherers
The "negrito" and African "pygmy" phenotypes are predominately exhibited by hunter-gatherers living in rainforest habitats. Foraging within such habitats is associated with a unique set of locomotor behaviors, most notably habitual vertical climbing during the pursuit of honey, fruit, and game. When performed frequently, this behavior is expected to correlate with developmentally plastic skeletal morphologies that respond to mechanical loading. U…
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal—Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
StW 114/115, from Sterkfontein, South Africa, is the earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal. Comparisons of StW 114/115 to modern humans, extant apes, and partial hominin metatarsals AL 333‐13, AL 333‐78, SKX 33380, OH 8, and KNM‐ER 803f reveal a similar morphology in all six fossils consistent with habitual bipedality. Although StW 114/115 possesses some primitive characters, the proximal articular morphology and internal torsion of the head…
Chimpanzee neonatal brain size: Implications for brain growth in Homo erectus
Midtarsal break variation in modern humans: Functional causes, skeletal correlates, and paleontological implications
The midtarsal break was once treated as a dichotomous, non‐overlapping trait present in the foot of non‐human primates and absent in humans. Recent work indicates that there is considerable variation in human midfoot dorsiflexion, with some overlap with the ape foot. These findings have called into question the uniqueness of the human lateral midfoot, and the use of osteological features in fossil hominins to characterize the midfoot of our extin…
Brief communication: A midtarsal (midfoot) break in the human foot
The absence of a midtarsal break has long been regarded as a derived feature of the human foot. Humans possess a rigid midfoot that acts as an efficient lever during the propulsive phase of bipedal gait. Non‐human primates, in contrast, have a more mobile midfoot that is adaptive for tree climbing. Here, we report plantar pressure and video evidence that a small percentage of modern humans ( n = 32/398) possess both elevated lateral midfoot press…
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
The Olduvai Hominid 8 foot: Adult or subadult
A quantification of calcaneal lateral plantar process position with implications for bipedal locomotion in Australopithecus
Virtual reconstruction of the Australopithecus africanus pelvis Sts 65 with implications for obstetrics and locomotion
Femoral neck and shaft structure in Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber (Rising Star System, South Africa)
A hominoid distal tibia from the Miocene of Pakistan
Bipedal locomotion in zoo apes: Revisiting the hylobatian model for bipedal origins
Bipedal locomotion is a hallmark of being human. Yet the body form from which bipedalism evolved remains unclear. Specifically, the positional behaviour (i.e. orthograde vs. pronograde) and the length of the lumbar spine (i.e. long and mobile vs. short and stiff) of the last common ancestor (LCA) of the African great apes and humans require further investigation. While fossil evidence would be the most conclusive, the paucity of hominid fossils f…
A neonatal perspective on Homo erectus brain growth
Taphonomic analysis of skeletal remains from chimpanzee hunts at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda
Skeletal development of hallucal tarsometatarsal joint curvature and angulation in extant apes and modern humans
Mojokerto revisited: Evidence for an intermediate pattern of brain growth in Homo erectus
Morphology of the Homo naledi femora from Lesedi
The Lesedi femora increase the range of variation of femoral morphology in H. naledi. Newly described features of the diaphysis and distal femur are either taxonomically uninformative or Homo-like. Overall, these three new femora are consistent with previous functional interpretations of the H. naledi lower limb as belonging to a species adapted for long distance walking and, possibly, running
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
Associated Australopithecus afarensis second and third metatarsals (A.L. 333-133) from Hadar, Ethiopia
A case of valgus ankle in an early Pleistocene hominin
Bipedal locomotion is a defining character of the hominin lineage. A skeletal correlate of bipedality is a perpendicularly oriented tibia relative to the plane of the ankle joint, positioning the foot directly under the centre of mass. Non-human primates, in contrast, possess a tibial shaft that tilts laterally away from the plane of the ankle joint (valgus ankle), which positions the foot in inversion and is adaptive for arboreal climbing. KNM-E…
A fossil hominoid proximal femur from Kikorongo Crater, southwestern Uganda
Chimpanzee neonatal brain size: Implications for brain growth in Homo erectus
Taphonomic analysis of skeletal remains from chimpanzee hunts at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda
Brain size at birth throughout human evolution: A new method for estimating neonatal brain size in hominins
Functional morphology of the ankle and the likelihood of climbing in early hominins
Whether early hominins were adept tree climbers is unclear. Although some researchers have argued that bipedality maladapts the hominin skeleton for climbing, others have argued that early hominin fossils display an amalgamation of features consistent with both locomotor strategies. Although chimpanzees have featured prominently in these arguments, there are no published data on the kinematics of climbing in wild chimpanzees. Without these biomec…
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal—Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
StW 114/115, from Sterkfontein, South Africa, is the earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal. Comparisons of StW 114/115 to modern humans, extant apes, and partial hominin metatarsals AL 333‐13, AL 333‐78, SKX 33380, OH 8, and KNM‐ER 803f reveal a similar morphology in all six fossils consistent with habitual bipedality. Although StW 114/115 possesses some primitive characters, the proximal articular morphology and internal torsion of the head…
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal: Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
Revisiting the “midtarsal break”
The midtarsal break was first described in this journal nearly 75 years ago to explain the ability of non‐human primates to lift their heel independently of the rest of the foot. Since the initial description of the midtarsal break, the calcaneocuboid joint has been assumed to be the anatomical source of this motion. Recently, however, it has been suggested that the midtarsal break may occur at the cuboid‐metatarsal joint, rather than at the calc…
The Olduvai Hominid 8 foot: Adult or subadult
A hominoid distal tibia from the Miocene of Pakistan
The Foot and Ankle of Australopithecus sediba
Australopithecus sediba had a human-like ankle and arch but an ape-like heel and tibia, implying that while bipedal, this species was also adept at climbing trees.
A shift toward birthing relatively large infants early in human evolution
It has long been argued that modern human mothers give birth to proportionately larger babies than apes do. Data presented here from human and chimpanzee infant:mother dyads confirm this assertion: humans give birth to infants approximately 6% of their body mass, compared with approximately 3% for chimpanzees, even though the female body weights of the two species are moderately convergent. Carrying a relatively large infant both pre- and postnat…
A case of valgus ankle in an early Pleistocene hominin
Bipedal locomotion is a defining character of the hominin lineage. A skeletal correlate of bipedality is a perpendicularly oriented tibia relative to the plane of the ankle joint, positioning the foot directly under the centre of mass. Non-human primates, in contrast, possess a tibial shaft that tilts laterally away from the plane of the ankle joint (valgus ankle), which positions the foot in inversion and is adaptive for arboreal climbing. KNM-E…
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
The obstetric dilemma: An ancient game of Russian roulette, or a variable dilemma sensitive to ecology
The difficult birth process of humans, often described as the “obstetric dilemma,” is commonly assumed to reflect antagonistic selective pressures favoring neonatal encephalization and maternal bipedal locomotion. However, cephalo‐pelvic disproportion is not exclusive to humans, and is present in some primate species of smaller body size. The fossil record indicates mosaic evolution of the obstetric dilemma, involving a number of different evolut…
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
A comparative study of the trabecular bony architecture of the talus in humans, non-human primates, and Australopithecus
The Lower Limb and Mechanics of Walking in Australopithecus sediba
The discovery of a relatively complete Australopithecus sediba adult female skeleton permits a detailed locomotor analysis in which joint systems can be integrated to form a comprehensive picture of gait kinematics in this late australopith. Here we describe the lower limb anatomy of Au. sediba and hypothesize that this species walked with a fully extended leg and with an inverted foot during the swing phase of bipedal walking. Initial contact of…
Brief communication: A midtarsal (midfoot) break in the human foot
The absence of a midtarsal break has long been regarded as a derived feature of the human foot. Humans possess a rigid midfoot that acts as an efficient lever during the propulsive phase of bipedal gait. Non‐human primates, in contrast, have a more mobile midfoot that is adaptive for tree climbing. Here, we report plantar pressure and video evidence that a small percentage of modern humans ( n = 32/398) possess both elevated lateral midfoot press…
Phenotypic Plasticity of Climbing-Related Traits in the Ankle Joint of Great Apes and Rainforest Hunter-Gatherers
The "negrito" and African "pygmy" phenotypes are predominately exhibited by hunter-gatherers living in rainforest habitats. Foraging within such habitats is associated with a unique set of locomotor behaviors, most notably habitual vertical climbing during the pursuit of honey, fruit, and game. When performed frequently, this behavior is expected to correlate with developmentally plastic skeletal morphologies that respond to mechanical loading. U…
Mojokerto revisited: Evidence for an intermediate pattern of brain growth in Homo erectus
The foot of Homo naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with …
Midtarsal break variation in modern humans: Functional causes, skeletal correlates, and paleontological implications
The midtarsal break was once treated as a dichotomous, non‐overlapping trait present in the foot of non‐human primates and absent in humans. Recent work indicates that there is considerable variation in human midfoot dorsiflexion, with some overlap with the ape foot. These findings have called into question the uniqueness of the human lateral midfoot, and the use of osteological features in fossil hominins to characterize the midfoot of our extin…
Skeletal development of hallucal tarsometatarsal joint curvature and angulation in extant apes and modern humans
A neonatal perspective on Homo erectus brain growth
Biology (32 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (28 works) · Anatomy (27 works) · Primate Behavior and Ecology (26 works) · Bipedalism (23 works) · Anatomy (22 works) · Biological evolution (22 works) · Evolutionary biology (22 works) · Hominidae (22 works) · Paleontology (22 works)