Early hominid physical evolution |
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Authors: | Lia Queiroz do Amaral |
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Institution: | 1. Instituto de Fisica, Universidade de S?o Paulo, C.P. 20516, S?o Paulo, Brasil
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Abstract: | Hindrances against bipedalism evolution are localized in obstetrical constraints, maternal mortality rates, infant birth trauma
and unsafe pregnancy. Analysis of infant survival probability shows that a shift to bipedalism could occur as a necessary
consequence of the process of body fur reduction, in a balance between such hindrances and safe infant transportation. Fur
reduction is proposed to correlate with cooling mechanism in intra-species physical fights. The triggering of a feed-back
mechanism connecting reduction of body fur to canine reduction would be responsible for a passage from threat displays to
actual physical fights. The proposed scenario for such changes is the transition from uni-male to multi-male social structures
among Hominoidea. The implications of the approach adopted are discussed. |
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Keywords: | bipedalism reproduction loss of fur infant carrying canine reduction |
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