Eleanor Milman
Team Leader | Certified Medical Illustrator
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Animating the Dikika Fossil

Visualization of an Australopithecus afarensis specimen: Implications for functional foot anatomy

This research project developed a methodology to use biomedical visualization techniques in reconstructing fossil specimens of human ancestry. A 3D animation was created that depicts the story and foot anatomy of the juvenile Australopithecus afarensis specimen popularly known as “Selam” or “The Dikika Child.” This visualization may help researchers observe subtle features that characterize the history of human locomotion. Learn more about the project by reading the article in the Journal of Biocommunications.

 

Who was The Dikika Child?

Selam or “The Dikika Child” was a three-year-old early hominin child who lived 3.3 million years ago. She belonged to the species Australopithecus afarensis, one of the first to evolve after our ancestors split from chimpanzees. Selam's fossil was discovered in Dikika, Ethiopia in 2000 by Dr. Zeray Alemseged and his team. She is the youngest early hominin specimen known today, so examining her fossilized skeleton can teach researchers about the evolution of many unique human traits, such as upright (bipedal) locomotion.

Photo courtesy of Zeray Alemseged Reconstruction by Elisabeth Daynès

Photo courtesy of Zeray Alemseged
Reconstruction by Elisabeth Daynès

 

Media: Avizo Lite // Materialise Mimics // Autodesk 3ds Max // Redshift // Adobe After Effects

Process

1. Segmentation

During the research process, I segmented the Dikika foot from the rest of the fossil using Avizo and Materialise Mimics. I then separated each individual foot bone and exported them as 3D models.

2. Modeling

Once I had all the individual foot bones as 3D files, I cleaned them up and optimized the geometry in Pixologic Z-Brush and Autodesk 3ds Max so that I could animate them. For comparison, I also segmented and modeled a human pediatric foot skeleton. 

3. Animation

Once a script and storyboard were complete, the individual foot bones of the Dikika fossil were animated to highlight important characteristics. A camera was placed in the scene to reveal the specimen from a range of different perspectives. 

 

References

  • Alemseged, Z., Spoor, F., Kimbel, W.H., Bobe, R., Geraads, D., Reed, D., & Wynn, J.G. 2006. A juvenile hominin skeleton from Dikika, Ethiopie. Nature, 443, 296-301.

  • Conroy, G.C., & Vannier, W. 1984. Noninvasive three-dimensional computer imaging of matrix-filled fossil skulls by high-resolution computed tomography. Science, New Series, 226(4673), 456-458.

  • DeSilva, J.M. 2009. Functional morphology of the ankle and the likelihood of climbing in early hominins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, 6567-72.

  • Duncan, A.S., Kappelman, J., & Shapiro, L.J. 1994. Metatarsophalangeal joint function and positional behavior in Australopithecus afarensis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 93, 67-81.

  • Gill, C.M., Bredella, M.A., & DeSilva, J.M. 2015. Skeletal development of hallucal tarsometatarsal joint curvature and angulation in extant apes and modern humans. Journal of Human Evolution, 88, 137-145.

  • Green, D.J., & Alemseged, Z. 2012. Australopithecus afarensis scapular ontogeny, function, and the role of climbing in human evolution. Science, 338, 514-517.

  • Harcourt-Smith, W.E.H., & Aiello, L.C. 2004. Review: Fossils, feet and the evolution of human bipedal locomotion. Journal of Anatomy, 204, 403-416.

  • Höffler, T.N., & Leutner, D. (2007). Instructional animation versus static pictures: A meta-analysis. Learning and Instruction, 17(2007), 722-738.

  • Hoyek, N., Collet, C., Di Rienzo, F., De Almeida, M., & Guillot, A. (2014). Effectiveness of three-dimensional digital animation in teaching human anatomy in an authentic classroom context. Anatomical Sciences Education, 7(6), 430-437.

  • Kanamoto, S., Ogihara, N., & Nakatsukasa, M. 2011. Three-dimensional orientations of talar articular surfaces in humans and great apes. Primates, 52, 61-68.

  • Kapandji, I.A. 1987. The Physiology of the Joints, vol. 2: Lower Limb. 5th ed. Trans. Honoré, L.H. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 166-241.

  • Kimbel, W.H., & Delezene, L.K. 2009. Lucy redux: A review of research on A. afarensis. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology, 52, 2-48.

  • Nagano, A., Umberger, B.R., Marzke, M.W., & Gerritsen, K.G.M. 2005. Neuromusculoskeletal computer modeling and simulation of upright, straight-legged, bipedal locomotion of Australopithecus afarensis (A.L. 288-1). American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 126, 2-13.

  • Spoor, F., Jeffery, N., & Zonneveld, F. 1999. Review: Using diagnostic radiology in human evolutionary studies. Journal of Anatomy, 197 61-76.

  • Stern, J.T. JR. 2000. Climbing to the top: A personal memoir of Australopithecus afarensis. Evolutionary Anthropology, 113-133.

  • Ward, C.V., Kimbel, W.H., & Johanson, D.C. 2011. Complete fourth metatarsal and arches in the foot of Australopithecus afarensis. Science, 000, 1-4.

  • Zipfel, B., DeSilva, J.M., Kidd, R.S., Carlson, K.J., Churchill, S.E., & Berger, L.R. 2011. The foot and ankle in Australopithecus sediba. Science, 333, 1417-20.

  • Zumach, K. 2017. Documenting Visualization Methodology and Decision-Making in Digital Reconstruction of Norellius nyctisaurop. Masters project research. University of Illinois at Chicago.