Fig. 2: PCA plot of the shape coordinates of the first two sacral vertebrae and auricular surface after a Generalized Procrustes Analysis of the complete sample. | Communications Biology

Fig. 2: PCA plot of the shape coordinates of the first two sacral vertebrae and auricular surface after a Generalized Procrustes Analysis of the complete sample.

From: Sacrum morphology supports taxonomic heterogeneity of “Australopithecus africanus” at Sterkfontein Member 4

Fig. 2

Sts 14 and StW 431 (both attributed to Australopithecus africanus) plot at opposite sides of the modern human distribution (blue circles = adults; sky-blue circles = subadults), while the two reconstructions of the A.L. 288-1 (A. afarensis) sacrum are close to Sts 14. The great apes (medium-orchid triangles = Pan; dark-cyan diamonds = Gorilla; orange squares = Pongo) are separated from the hominins along PC1. PC1 is driven by the overall height-to-width ratio of the sacrum, and PC2 represents the orientation and relative antero-posterior width of the sacral alae. Closed symbols = males, open symbols = females.

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