Post by Tamrin on Feb 21, 2014 18:34:22 GMT 10
Please google
- econiche Homo
- aquarboreal
- misconceptions Verhaegen
- pachyosteosclerosis
- Rhys Evans Vaneechoutte
econiche Homo (conclusion):
In brief, instead of the ‘old’ AAT, I propose:
(1) an aquarboreal theory of Mio-Pliocene hominoids, including australopiths,
(2) a littoral theory of Pleistocene Homo.
(1) an aquarboreal theory of Mio-Pliocene hominoids, including australopiths,
(2) a littoral theory of Pleistocene Homo.
aquarboreal (abstract):
According to biomolecular data, the great apes split into Asian pongids (orang-utan) and African hominids (gorillas, chimpanzees and humans) 18–12 million years ago (Mya) and hominids split into gorillas and humans–chimpanzees 10–6 Mya. Fossils with pongid features appear in Eurasia after c. 15 Mya, and fossils with hominid fossils appear in Africa after c. 10 Mya. Instead of the traditional savannah-dwelling hypothesis, we argue that a combination of fossil (including the newly discovered Orrorin, Ardipithecus and Kenyanthropus hominids) and comparative data now provides evidence showing that: (1) the earliest hominids waded and climbed in swampy or coastal forests in Africa–Arabia and fed partly on hard-shelled fruits and molluscs; (2) their australopith descendants in Africa had a comparable locomotion but generally preferred a diet including wetland plants; and (3) the Homo descendants migrated to or remained near the Indian Ocean coasts, lost most climbing abilities, and exploited waterside resources.
misconceptions Verhaegen (introduction):
It is often assumed that Alister Hardy’s and Elaine Morgan’s aquatic ape theory (AAT)suggests that more than 5 Ma (million years ago) there was a semi-aquatic phase in our past (explaining e.g. human fur loss, fatness and upright bipedalism) which was followed by a savannah phase n the African plains. In 2011, we published an eBook with contributions of most proponents of waterside hypotheses, Was Man more aquatic in the past?, which showed a rather different picture of AAT. This article very briefly describes my view of ape and humanevolution. Details and references can be found in our publications, see the list at the end of thisarticle.
pachyosteosclerosis (abstract):
Fossil skeletons of Homo erectus and related specimens typically had heavy cranial and postcranial bones, and it has been hypothesised that these represent adaptations, or are responses, to various physical activities such as endurance running, heavy exertion, and/or aggressive behavior. According to the comparative biological data, however, skeletons that show a combination of disproportionally large diameters, extremely compact bone cortex, and very narrow medullary canals are associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic tetrapods that wade, and/or dive for sessile foods such as hard-shelled invertebrates in shallow waters. These so-called pachyosteosclerotic bones are less supple and more brittle than non-pachyosteosclerotic bones, and marine biologists agree that they function as hydrostatic ballast for buoyancy control. This paper discusses the possibility that heavy skeletons in archaic Homo might be associated with part-time collection of sessile foods in shallow waters.
Rhys Evans Vaneechoutte:
Marc could you please supply a specific link?