Figure 3.

Anterior and superior views of the pelvis in (a) female A. afarensis (‘Lucy’), (b) female H. erectus (Gona), (c) male H. heidelbergensis (Atapuerca Pelvis 1) and (d) female modern H. sapiens. The bones are shown to approximately the same scale. (e) Comparison of pelvic shape and body proportions in H. erectus, A. afarensis and modern H. sapiens. Note the relatively broad pelvis in A. afarensis, and the great degree of iliac flare in both fossil hominins. As iliac flare and pelvic width decrease the body shape becomes relatively narrow, promoting effective heat loss. (a,b and d from [57]; c from [37]; e by J. Gurche from [58]).