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What is the term for humans and other humanlike creatures that walk upright?

User Startec
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Final answer:

The term for humans and other humanlike creatures that walk upright is hominin, which includes species like Homo erectus and Australopithecus, as well as cousins such as Neanderthals and Denisovans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Upright Walking in Humanlike Creatures

The term for humans and other humanlike creatures that walk upright is hominin. These bipedal hominins include our own species and direct ancestors like Homo erectus and Australopithecus, as well as 'cousins' such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. Bipedal locomotion set our ancestors apart from other primates, allowing for significant evolutionary developments related to diet, predator evasion, tool use, and the dexterous capabilities of the human hand. As bipedalism persisted, anatomical changes occurred over time to support this form of movement, such as adaptations in the pelvis, legs, and feet. Homo erectus, which means 'upright man', is a particularly well-known example of an early human ancestor that walked exclusively on two legs.

Hominins belong to a wider group called 'hominids', which includes all modern and extinct great apes: humans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans and their ancestors. The study of these creatures and how they moved provides insights into our own development and evolutionary history

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