What´s Bipedalism?

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Recommended: The factors leading to the emergence of bipedalism

The birth of a baby is a miracle to the world; a baby crawling by itself is a huge achievement; a baby taking its very first steps is a historical moment for human evolution. A human is able to endure many changes, socially and environmentally, tailoring its skills and abilities along the way. The most remarkable adaptation for humans is the ability to walk upright on two feet, rather than crawling on all fours. When a baby is able to master the mechanics of bipedalism, it is a significant moment in that child’s life. This very moment dates back millions of years ago when bipedalism began to emerge in early hominids. It is unclear when it first originated, although fossil records lead us to believe that it began five to ten million years ago. Like the formation of the Earth, there are many controversial theories regarding bipedalism. One commonality in these existing theories concludes that bipedalism has become one of the most significant traits that distinguish humans from non-human primates and other animals. Examining the general phenomenon of bipedalism and the location of its first occurrences contributes to the discussion detailing why bipedalism is a significant moment in human evolution, making a clear distinction between human and primate.
Bipedalism’s origination is hardly accurate, but having fossil evidence and making connections in the environment in which they were discovered can improve the accuracy for when and where it originated. “Our early ancestors and some of their primate contemporaries thus encountered a variety of environments--the forest/open-space ecotone…as well as changes through time--and so underwent selection for the ability to deal with a mixed environment of increasing variability” (Park, 210). Th...

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...e twice the weight of the flexors.” (Du Brul, 207). Du Brul is saying that humans possess all of their upper body weight resting on the extensors of our postcranial construction. Additionally, a humans body has certain proportions to balance on our two legs. Humans’ legs are longer than our arms, whereas quadrupeds possess longer arms than legs. Because the arrangement of a humans body structure varies from a primate, humans are set to fit the locomotives of bipedalism. Consequently, “humans have a bipedal vertebrae.” (Du Brul, 205). In addition, Lewin describes a “debate centered around the anatomy of the pelvis and the form of the hands and feet and the amount of our weight that the joints have to carry on two limbs instead of four” (Lewin, 1433). Du Burl and Lewin alike, both have the same theoretical approach to bipedalism and its correlation to the human body.

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