Lucy's length: stature reconstruction in Australopithecus afarensis (A.L.288-1) with implications for other small-bodied hominids.

New stature estimates are provided for A.L.288-1 (Australopithecus afarensis) based on (1) the relationship between femur length and stature in separate samples of human pygmies and pygmy chimpanzees and (2) model II regression alternatives to standard least-squares methods. Estimates from the two samples are very similar and converge on a value of approximately 3'6" for "Lucy." These results are compared to prior estimates and extended to other small-bodied hominids such as STS-14 and O.H.62. A new foot-to-stature ratio is also estimated for A.L.288-1, and its potential biomechanical significance for gait is evaluated in comparison to other groups.