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Bipedal behavior and the emergence of erect posture in man
Author(s) -
Sigmon B. A.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330340105
Subject(s) - bipedalism , biology , natural selection , selection (genetic algorithm) , anatomy , computer science , artificial intelligence
Bipedal behavior is present to some degree in most of the higher primates. Field studies of living pongids have shown that an upright stance and various types and degrees of bipedal progression are not uncommon and are thus presumably advantageous. Bipedal behavior similar to that in living pongids could also have been, and probably was, present in pre‐hominids. As the environment of the pre‐hominids changed, the increased use of bipedalism was of survival value. That is, it was a behavioral response to environmental circumstances and not just a random event. Once bipedal behavior became habitual, it formed part of a pattern of natural selection which shaped a physical type adapted for erect, bipedal posture.