Question

Non-human apes are quite poorly adapted for walking upright, in terms of their anatomy. I have found many sources that explain how their anatomy is so unsuitable for an upright life, yet none have given reasons why they evolved like this in the first place

It seems like most adaptations for bipedalism would work well enough in other apes, and there should be at least some pressure to move well on the ground

Given this, why are the other apes so poorly adapted for walking upright?

Answer 1

Non-human apes are poorly adapted for walking upright due to their evolutionary history and the advantages of their arboreal lifestyle.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason why non-human apes are poorly adapted for walking upright is a result of their evolutionary history and ecological niche. Primates evolved from tree-dwelling ancestors, which favored adaptations for climbing and brachiation. While bipedalism offered advantages for our human ancestors, such as freeing up their hands for tool use and enabling long-distance travel, other apes were better suited for their arboreal lifestyle. Their anatomy, including long arms, rotating shoulder joints, and feet adapted for gripping branches, allowed them to navigate trees more efficiently, which was advantageous for their survival.