[_ Old Earth _] Did Chimpanzees need Chiropodists?

[Barbarian]

The data show that the footprints at laetoli are almost identical to those of modern humans:
What makes these prints an almost unbelievable discovery are that not only are they clearly made by fully bipedal1 creatures, but are also almost indistinguishable from modern human footprints, despite being formed millions of years earlier than the earliest known fossilised human footprints.

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A944336

So this hominin must have had a lower skeleton that approximated that of humans. Turns out there was one. Lucy. A. afarensis had the same canted hip, knock-kneed posture, and backbone as humans.

The major difference between the feet of A. afarensis and modern humans is the toes are a bit longer, and the big toe is splayed outward a bit. Not surprisingly, these differences are shown in the Laetoli footprints (afarensis is known to have lived in this area at that time)

Surprise.

 

[Asyncritus]

The data show that the footprints at laetoli are almost identical to those of modern humans:
What makes these prints an almost unbelievable discovery are that not only are they clearly made by fully bipedal1 creatures, but are also almost indistinguishable from modern human footprints, despite being formed millions of years earlier than the earliest known fossilised human footprints.

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A944336

So this hominin must have had a lower skeleton that approximated that of humans. Turns out there was one. Lucy. A. afarensis had the same canted hip, knock-kneed posture, and backbone as humans.

The major difference between the feet of A. afarensis and modern humans is the toes are a bit longer, and the big toe is splayed outward a bit. Not surprisingly, these differences are shown in the Laetoli footprints (afarensis is known to have lived in this area at that time)

Surprise.

This is nonsense, Barbarian, and you know it.

If you return to my original post on the subject, you will note the fact that primate feet have a metatarsal ligament which binds FOUR of the toes together.

The feet of men have a metatarsal ligament which BINDS ALL 5 TOES TOGETHER.

Men could NOT have evolved from primates because of that single evolutionary difficulty, among others.

There is NO half-way house between 4-bound and 5-bound. They could not have evolved one from the other, whichever way you choose to go.

But I missed your explanation of how modern human footprints could have occurred 3.7 mya. Leakey said so, and she doubtless knew what she was talking about. I'm not sure that you do.

Perhaps a re-reading of the article cited is in order.

 

[Barbarian]

This is nonsense, Barbarian, and you know it.

The evidence contradicts your belief, and you know it. Notice the Australopithicine pelvis. More human-like than apelike. And it's adapted to walking on two feet.

Notice the human and Australopithicine feet. Adapted to walking on two feel.

If you return to my original post on the subject, you will note the fact that primate feet have a metatarsal ligament which binds FOUR of the toes together.

Except for humans and Australopithicines. (and possibly a few other hominins). The metatarsal ligament is extended in them to the hallux.

The feet of men have a metatarsal ligament which BINDS ALL 5 TOES TOGETHER.

Men could NOT have evolved from primates because of that single evolutionary difficulty, among others.

There is NO half-way house between 4-bound and 5-bound.

Show us that the ligament can't evolve. Much greater variations exist within humans. For example, the flexor hallucis brevis sometimes has a connection with the long plantar ligament, or the calcaneous, and sometimes some of the normal connections aren't there. It's pretty foolish to claim that variation present in a species can't evolve between species.

They could not have evolved one from the other, whichever way you choose to go.

Surprise.

But I missed your explanation of how modern human footprints could have occurred 3.7 mya. Leakey said so, and she doubtless knew what she was talking about. I'm not sure that you do.

Turns out, they weren't made by modern humans. And as you learned, they aren't exactly like those of modern humans, merely "nearly so."

 

[Barbarian]

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