Australopithecus afarensis
The post-cranial skeleton also yielded several important lines of data regarding the locomotion (movement) and height of "Australopithecus afarensis". The femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and foot indicate that Selam (and hence the species she represents) walked fully upright, even at 3 years old, while the shoulder bones are more similar to those of gorillas. Selam's fingers, as well as those of other members of "Australopithecus afarensis", are long and curved. This suggests that while the species was an effective biped while on the ground, it retained the ability to climb, which would have been a beneficial adaptation for avoiding predators, especially at night and especially for the smaller or younger members of the species.