The influence of bipedalism on the energy and water budgets of early hominids

doi:10.1016/0047-2484(91)90003-E

Journal of Human Evolution

Volume 21, Issue 2, August 1991, Pages 117-136

https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2484(91)90003-E Get rights and content

A model is described for estimating the net thermal loads, and associated demands for drinking water, experienced by bipedal and quadrupedal hominids in open equatorial environments. Comparisons of the results obtained with the thermoregulatory capabilities of living primates indicate that the equatorial African savannah would have been a difficult habitat for hominoids to exploit. However, under all temperature regimes examined distinct advantages would have been conferred by bipedalism, allowing hominids to forage at higher temperatures and over greater distances, while consuming less food and water, than quadrupeds.

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ArticleThe influence of bipedalism on the energy and water budgets of early hominids

Brain Res.

J. hum. Evol.

J. Therm. Biol.

J. hum. Evol.

J. hum. Evol.

J. ham. Evol.

Moisture, its accumulation and site of evaporation in the coats of sweating cattle

J. agric. Sci., Camb.

The influence of the nasal mucosa and the carotid rete upon hypothalamic temperature in sheep

J. Physiol.

Heat transfer in biological systems

Int. Rev. Gen. Exp. Zool.

Keeping a cool head

News Physiol. Sci.

Selective brain cooling, an important component of thermal physiology

Radiative heat loss from animals and man

Studies on the carotid rete and its associated arteries

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

Water balance and excretion

Primate models to study eccrine sweating

Am. J. Primat.

Spectral distribution of solar radiation at the earth's surface

Science

Food transportation and the origins of bipedalism

Am. Anthrop.

Hominid bipedalism: independent evidence for food-carrying theory

Science

The thermoregulatory responses of the galago (Galago crassicavdatus), the baboon (Papio cynocephalus) and the Chimpanzee (Pan satyrus) to heat stress

J. Physiol.

Thermoregulation inMacaca mulatta: a thermal balance study

J. appl. Physiol: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol.

A systematic assessment of early African hominids

Science

The seed-eaters: a new model of hominid differentiation based on a baboon analogy

Man

Thermoregulation inErythrocebus patas. A thermal balance study

J. appl. Physiol.

Article
The influence of bipedalism on the energy and water budgets of early hominids