Bipedalism and Human Evolution discusses the emergence of bipedalism in hominins. Paleoanthropology studies our extinct ancestors through fossils, which are any remnants of ancient life preserved in the fossil record. Around 7 million years ago, there was a common ancestor to both African apes and hominins. Hominins are the branch of primates humans evolved from, and they are defined by their habitually bipedal walking on two legs. Various models have been proposed to explain the evolutionary advantages provided by bipedalism, such as increased vigilance, carrying abilities, heat dissipation, energy efficiency, foraging/harvesting, and display.

1. Bipedalism and Human
Evolution

2. Fossils and the Fossil Record
• Fossils are any remnant of ancient life
(bone, footprint, preserved muscle
tissue…etc.)
• The fossil record is the entire collection
of fossils left behind by all organisms on
earth.

3. Paleoanthropology
• Paleoanthropology is the study of our
extinct ancestors (and close relatives)
through the fossil record.

4. Common Ancestry
• Around 7 million years ago there was a
common ancestor to both the African
Apes and the organisms known as
hominins.

5. Hominins
• Hominins are the branch of Hominoidea
to which humans and our ancestors
belong to.

6. Hominoid Evolution

7. Bipedalism
• Hominins are habitually bipedal
primates.
• Bipedalism refers to walking on two
legs.

8. Bipedalism
• Bipedalism is the characteristic that
defines hominins. But what advantages
does walking on two legs offer? And
why might it have been a useful
adaptation?

9. Bipedalism
• Vigilance Model
• Carrying Model
• Heat Dissipation Model
• Energy Efficiency Model
• Foraging/Harvesting Model
• Display Model