Nature 240, 568 - 569 (29 December 1972); doi:10.1038/240568a0

Newborn Size and Pelvic Dimensions of Australopithecus

WALTER LEUTENEGGER

Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

IN mammals construction of the pelvis not only reflects functional adaptations to certain modes of locomotion but also depends on maternal-foetal size relationships. Therefore, information about body weight and head size of newborn Australopithecus in relation to the size of the female pelvic inlet is of evolutionary significance with respect to the adaptation of hominids to bipedalism.

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