Evolution of Human Bipedalism:

1773 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: advantage for bipedalism

The Arboreal Ancestry
Recent research has proved to support the hypothesis that one of the hallmarks of human evolution, bipedalism, arose from an arboreal ancestry. As implied, the tree-living ancestor was to have a benefited from a bipedal gait through aided mobility throughout the tree network (Thorpe et. al., 2007). In addition, the use of the upper body in the arboreal ancestor would be helpful in foraging (Stanford 2006). The importance of the arboreal ancestor hypotheses is their relation to the lower body development towards a bipedal posture and gait.

Orangutan Navigation: An Arboreal Hypothesis
As proposed by Thorpe et. al. the importance of unlimited mobility within the canopies provides a selective pressure for the evolution of bipedalism (2007). The basis of the study not only addresses increased mobility, but also increased stability on less stable branches (Thorpe et. al. 2007). Thorpe et. al. proposes that the increased stability on less stable branches is positively correlated to increased mobility (2007). Orangutans exhibit this correlation through their ability to access a wide variety of branches with the aid of the upper limbs (Thorpe et. al. 2007). The study found that 75% of all biped activity individuals would use hands for additional support (Thorpe et. al. 2007). Furthermore, Thorpe et. al. found that 90% of bipedal bouts occurred while supporting with extended hind-limb posture (Thorpe et. al. 2007). Thorpe et. al. evidence proves bipedal posture is widely used as a mechanism of support (2007). A mechanism of support in this case would act as a selective pressure for stability, thus making the bipedal trait a form of stabilizing selection (Thorpe et. al. 2007). Additionally Thorpe et. al. states that...

... middle of paper ...

...nford C. 2006. “Arboreal Bipedalism in Wild Chimpanzees: Implications for the Evolution of Hominid Posture and Locomotion”. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 129:225-231.
6. Schwartz J. 2007. “The Origins of Human Bipedalism”. Science Magazine. 318: 1065.
7. Thorpe S, Holder R, Crompton R. 2007. “Origin of Human Bipedalism As an Adaptation for Locomotion on Flexible Branches”. Science Magazine. 316:1328-1331.
8. Thorpe S, Holder R, Crompton R. 2007. “Response to ‘The Origins of Human Bipedalism’”. Science Magazine. 318: 1065.
9. Videan E, McGrew WC. 2002. “Bipedality in Chimpanzee (Pan trolodytes) and Bonobo (Pan paniscus): Testing Hypotheses on the Evolution of Bipedalism”. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 118: 184-190.
10. Williams S. 2010. “Morphological integration and the evolution of knuckle-walking”. Journal of Human Evolution. 58: 432-440.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of This Fleeting World

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bipedalism (our ability to walk on two legs), the uncommon size of our brains, symbolic language, and the ability to farm/hunt is what makes us different from the past era. (Christian 6-7) Pages 1-22 begins the era of foragers, also known as the “Paleolithic era” where they use stick and stone tools to survive across different climates around the globe. The era of foragers is the longest (250,000 years) and the hardest era to integrate evidence because of the time gap. Christian stated, “Historians have had a hard time integrating the era of foragers into their accounts of the past because most historians lack the research skills needed to study an area that generated no written evidence (2).

    Read More

  • Ardipithecus Ramidus Kadabba: The Oldest Hominid

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wilford, J. (2004).Another Branch of Early Human Ancestors Is Reported by Scientists. [Online], March. Available at: http://gateway.proquest.com [Accessed 28 March 2004].

    Read More

  • The Evolution Of Primate Locomotion And Body Configuration: An Analysis

    1872 Words  | 4 Pages

    After millions of years that humans separated from their relative primate how is that humans became bipedal. So many changes have happened to the human body to decide to stay on the ground and abandoned their lives in the trees. Primates evolved different body structures according to their lifestyle and the ecosystem in which they lived. As Charles Darwin natural selection stays; it could be as a result of new environments, the need for food and shelter, which forced humans to adapt and survive. Although, most of primates’ anatomy reflects habits of movement, it could be easy to see the external differences but there are many differences that have been intensely studied and researched.

    Read More

  • Hominid's Development of Bipedalism

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    Approximately 4 million years ago a wonderful evolutionary phenomenon was happening in Africa. Early hominids, man’s ancestors, were beginning a giant leap in their evolution. These hominids were moving out of the forest and beginning to walk upright, out on the open plains (Fagan, 98). This change from quadrupedalism was the most significant adaptation that ever happened to these early hominids. It caused many adaptations that make man what he is today. This process occurred in early hominids for many different reasons, each reason helping to perfect the upright walking posture. Bipedalism is thought to have occurred because of changes in environment, feeding habits, thermal regulation, and behavioral mechanisms.

    Read More

  • Outline for Primate Evolution

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    1. Since apes were pushed out of the trees by lack of food, they eventually had to adapt to walking around on two legs.

    Read More

  • Give a critical account of Freud’s understanding of religion.

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Storr (1989, 108) argues that today there is no evidence from anthropology or from studies of subhuman primates that ...

    Read More

  • Australopithecus Afarensis

    608 Words  | 2 Pages

    Australopithecus afarensis existed between 3.9 and 3.0 million years ago. The distinctive characteristics of A. afarensis were: a low forehead, a bony ridge over the eyes, a flat nose, no chin, more humanlike teeth, pelvis and leg bones resembled those of modern man. Females were smaller than males. Their sexual dimorphism was males:females; 1.5. A. afarensis was not as sexually dimorphic as gorillas, but more sexually dimorphic than humans or chimpanzees. A lot of scientists think that Australopithecus afarensis was partially adapted to climbing the trees, because the fingers and toe bones of the species were curved and longer than the ones of the modern human.

    Read More

  • Factors in the Evolution to Bipedalism

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bipedalism had many advantages, but it also had many disadvantages and provided dangers to early hominids. Some of these disadvantages included i...

    Read More

  • The Aquatic Ape Theory

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Around five to seven million years ago in Africa, a man/ape primate ventured about in the wooded areas. (Morgan, 1982) “My thesis is that a branch of this primitive ape-stock was forced by competition from life in the trees to feed on the sea-shores and to hunt for food, shellfish, sea-urchins etc.”, quoted from Alister Hardy. For the need of food, shelter, space, and resources, the hominid relocated from its traditional environment of the tree, toward water. As evident today, many species of monkeys and apes seek these resources in trees. According to Elaine Morgan, the man/ape primates that stayed and continued to survive in the wooded environment millions of years ago, are the direct ancestors of today’s monkey and ape primates, while the ones that chose to move to the water are the direct ancestors of today’s humans. As proposed by AAT, this is the point along the evolutionary line in which humans and ape primates split.

    Read More

  • Your Inner Fish By Neil Shubin Analysis

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book, Your Inner Fish, by Neil Shubin he presents the notion of evolution and how we can trace parts that make up the human body back to jellyfish, worms, and even fish. The book not only discusses how we arose to be what we are today, but also the implications our ancestors had on our current body plan. In this essay, I will demonstrate that I have digested the entirety of Shubin’s book by convincing you (dear reader) that everything in our bodies is based on simple changes to already existing systems. To make this case, I will use the evidence of limb development in a vast array of organisms, the four arches found in the embryological stage of development, the structures inside our noses, and how our ears have come about all due to modifications.

    Read More

  • Savanna Theory Versus Aquatic Ape Theory of Human Evolution

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    The evolution of man is constantly in question. While we are reasonably sure that modern humans and primates are both related to the same common ancestor, there is constant debate over what initially caused the two species to split into early hominids and apes. According to some, our longest and most popular theory on the division of man and ape is profoundly wrong. However, those same individuals usually offer an equally controversial theory as a substitute, one that is almost impossible to scientifically test or prove. Both the Savanna Theory and the Aquatic Ape Theory offer solutions to how and why humans evolved into bipedal toolmakers. But with enough questioning, each loses its accountability to rhetorical science.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homo Erectus

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    1.9 million years ago, Homo Habilis of East Africa had evolved into an entirely new species known as Homo erectus. Homo erectus directly translates to "Upright man" and for good reason. One of largest anatomical advancements of Homo erectus was their arm and leg bones which were very similar in shape and proportions to that of modern day humans. "Their legs would have made Homo erectus efficient long distance runners like modern humans."(Dennis). Along with their longer more developed legs, Homo erectus's leg were also hairless which allowed them to evaporate sweat and thus be more efficient at not overheating. This advantage allowed Homo erectus to chase down four legged mammals to the point of heat exhaustion and thus drastically increase the efficiency their hunting tactics. Another change in the legs of Homo erectus was their slightly more narrow pelvises. This forced the size of a child’s head to be smaller at birth and undergo most of its development during childhood. (Dennis)

    Read More

  • Development of Tools Throughout Time

    2065 Words  | 5 Pages

    By 2.5 million years ago, a new human evolutionary trend had begun. The change to a upright bipedal posture, and existing flexibility at the shoulder, arms, and hands allowed hominids to carry and manipulate objects much more readily. Early hominids began to manipulate the physical world, inventing solutions to the problems of human existence. Instead of foraging, as do most primates, on a more or less individualistic basis for food sources, early hominids invented stone tools with which they could slay larger animals. This began a switch from scavenging to hunting as the main means by which meat was acquired.

    Read More

  • The Origin of Modern Humans

    1944 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Stringer and Andrews, the Out-of-Africa Model suggests that there is a fairly recent common ancestor that shares many of the anatomical characteristics displayed by modern Homo Sapiens (1263). This version is more parsimonious with regard to the fact that it ...

    Read More

  • What Makes Us Human?

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    One of the most important and pivotal physical and biological adaptations that separate humans from other mammals is habitual bipedalism. According to Darwin, as restated by Daniel Lieberman, “It was bipedalism rather than big brains, language, or tool use that first set th...

    Read More

More about Evolution of Human Bipedalism:

Open Document