A new fossil find in South Africa has shed light on how humans learned to walk. The fossil, which is of a hominin called Australopithecus sediba, is about 2 million years old and shows evidence that it could walk both on two legs and on all fours. This suggests that the transition from walking on all fours to walking on two legs was a gradual process that took place over millions of years.

The fossil was found in a cave system called Malapa in the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cave system is home to a number of hominin fossils, including the famous Taung Child, which was discovered in 1924.

The Australopithecus sediba fossil is significant because it is one of the best-preserved hominin fossils ever found. It is also one of the oldest fossils that shows evidence of bipedalism, or the ability to walk on two legs.

The fossil shows that Australopithecus sediba had a number of features that are associated with bipedalism, such as a long leg and a short arm. It also had a curved spine and a broad pelvis, which helped to support its weight when it was standing upright.

The Australopithecus sediba fossil is providing important new insights into the evolution of human bipedalism. It is a reminder that the transition from walking on all fours to walking on two legs was a complex and gradual process.