Distal humerus in hominoid evolution.

Multivariate analysis of 16 measurements of the distal humerus in samples of hominoids, cercopithecoids, Tertiary hominoid fossils, and early hominids shows the following results: (1) there is a substantial and functionally interpretable difference between the distal humerus of cercopithecoids and hominoids (excluding Hylobates); (2) the Tertiary hominoid fossils resemble the cercopithecoids more than the hominoids although they are in some ways intermediate; (3) the hominid fossil from Kanapoi resembles Homo sapiens very closely; (4) the Kromdraai humerus is intermediate in shape between Pan and other hominoids; and (5) the large fossil hominid from East Rudolf (KNM-ER 739) is unique among the hominoids.