Thermoregulatory Model Of Bipedalism

The Thermoregulatory Model
The thermoregulatory model proposes a different outlook on how bipedalism came to be. This model suggests that bipedalism evolved because of the temperature of the habitat that hominin ancestors lived in. This hypothesis is based on the idea that by standing upright one can reduce the surface area of the body that comes into contact with direct sunlight, thus reducing the body’s overall heat gain and total temperature. In addition, by standing upright the body increased in height, which exposed the greatest amount of the body to cooling winds and air. One possible explanation that is used to explain this is that when australopiths were obtaining food in more open habitats they were being exposed to more direct …show more content…
One would be the invention of tools. This hypothesis says that when hominin ancestors began to problem solve, this led them to start using tools to help complete various tasks. Similar to using weapons, tools needed the arms and hands to be free. So when using tools became habitual, bipedalism became consistent in their daily lives. Next, the advantages of the ability to carry objects long distances may explain the evolution of bipedalism. This hypothesis states that the opposable thumb had already evolved before bipedalism became apparent. This feature allowed them to hold objects and carry them long distances. These objects could have included, infants, food, or even just their belongings. When these ancestors, decided to relocate to different areas, they needed to be able to carry objects, and bipedalism was the most efficient way to do that. Third, bipedalism allowed them to see long distances. Hominin ancestors lived in grasslands with high grass that probably grew to be several feet tall. Being quadrupedal prevented them from seeing very far. By converting to bipedalism, they were able to increase their height significantly, which allowed them to see over the tall grass and farther away. This ability became a trait that increased survival greatly because bipedalism would have given many advantages, especially during hunting when they could see a predator or prey coming from a long …show more content…
It is more likely that numerous factors that have been mentioned above played a role and yet others not mentioned, as well. If one thing is made clear, it is that many of these factors did in fact contribute to the evolution of standing upright for bipedalism locomotion. Most of these factors do have significant evidence that supports the ideas behind how bipedality evolved in hominins, but some may have had a higher influence than others. For example, the hypothesis that suggests that the advantages bipedalism gives to fighting has the strongest supportive evidence. This is because not only did bipedalism possibly allow hominin ancestors the ability to fight more effectively with just their body’s alone, but also could have provided an advantage with weapons. Bipedalism allows the hands and arms to be freed. With the creation of spears and other sharp projectile weapons, hominin ancestors might of had the ability to kill their target from a larger distance, which also increased their survival. This is in contrast to killing their target at a close range, where the animal could be fast and out run the hunter. In other words, the ability to use bipedalism during competition has a strong influence over relative fitness, which may determine if genes from the organism are passed on or

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