87.7k views
1 vote
Why is the savannah hypothesis wrong when it comes to explaining the origins of bipedalism?

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The savanna hypothesis suggests that bipedalism evolved as an adaptation to a savanna habitat, but this hypothesis is incorrect. Fossil evidence and other factors indicate that bipedalism existed before our ancestors lived in savannas, and bipedalism offers advantages beyond living in a savanna.

Step-by-step explanation:

The savanna hypothesis proposes that bipedalism evolved as an adaptation to a savanna habitat. However, this hypothesis is considered to be incorrect for several reasons. One major issue is that bipedalism likely existed before our ancestors inhabited savanna environments. Fossil evidence shows that early hominins, such as Australopithecus afarensis, were already bipedal and lived in woodland environments. Additionally, bipedalism has many advantages beyond just living in a savanna, such as increased mobility and energy efficiency.

User ProTom
by
8.7k points