Summer Haslam

Anth-1020
Monday-Wednesday
Evolution of Bipedalism and Larger Brains

Many early researchers hypothesized that larger brains developed before bipedalism did
because of the amount of fossils found from the 1800s through the 1900s. These fossils of most
hominins found had relatively large brains. There was one fossil that was found that they named
Taung child in 1924 from Africa (efossils.org). This fossil was called Australopithecus
Africanus. Africanus deterring from the location of Africa which it was found. A researcher by
the name of Raymond Dart was the one that found and identified this fossil. The brain size was
smaller like those of chimpanzees but had signs of being bipedal with the foramen magnum.
This suggested that bipedalism developed before larger brain size which at the time went against
what the consensus was at the time. Debate about these two developments continued for many
years after because of the fragmentary remains of the fossil record.
Lucy was discovered in 1974 by Donald Johanson. She was almost a complete fossil that
was found, from the Au. Afarensis species dating back to 3.2 Ma (efossils.org). This fossil was a
huge discovery because of the features found within her fossilized skeleton. She had features
that showed a smaller brain size but highly distinct features of bipedalism. Today, scientists are
still revising the timeline of bipedalism but the evidence definitely highlights the fact that
bipedalism was one of the first characteristics shown in the hominin lineage. This could have
brought on many more advances in hominins dealing with tool use and diet.
Bipedalism has many characteristics that can determine this particular trait, one of them
being the cranium. The foramen magnum is the hole located in the cranium that lets the spinal

cord pass through it. In humans (or any biped) it is located in the direct center of the skull,
perpendicular to the mandible (chin). In a quadruped it is located towards the back of the skull
because the spinal column runs parallel with the ground. Another characteristic that is critical is
balancing. Walking on two legs takes balance as the biped lifts one leg and swings it in front of
them while standing on the other leg. In bipeds the center of gravity is more in the center of the
pelvis while in quadrupeds it is centered more in the torso. The curvature of the Lumbar helps us
as humans walk with a figure 8 type of movement. We have five vertebrae that are
comparatively larger than those of larger apes which have four smaller ones. The Sacrum sits
with the last lumbar vertebra along with pelvis at the sacroiliac joint. In modern day humans the
sacrum is broader while in chimpanzees the sacroiliac joint is somewhat smaller in comparison.
Lucy along with humans have a wider and shorter sacrum while chimpanzees have a narrow and
longer one (efossils.org).
The pelvis in a human has a larger pelvic outlet and larger hip joints. These
characteristics show efficiency for bipedalism and a birth canal that allows larger brained babies
to be born. The hip joints are what support the torso in walking and standing upright. They also
support the extra stress being put onto the body by absorbing it into those joints from the pelvis.
The femur is also a critical link between the pelvis, lower legs, and the vertebral column. The
rounded femoral heads articulate with the pelvis and is generally a straight shaft. This shaft ends
with what is called a condyle. The condyles are more elliptical and larger in bipeds. A bigger
femoral head can absorb more stress in the joints. In humans and showing in Lucys fossils, the
femur is a little angled at the hip joints so it brings the knee in and in line with the torso. All of
these characteristics in one way or another are balancing out each other so it gives bipeds the

traits they need to absorb the stress of being on two feet. With the knees being brought in to the
center, it makes it so the feet are in line with the center of gravity (efossils.org).
Most quadrupeds have relatively larger arms compared to their legs. In bipeds the legs
are what is longer. Lucy has characteristics of both modern humans and chimpanzees.
Curvature of phalanges shows that there is a lot of time that a species spends grasping, for
example many primates spend a lot of time in the trees. They need to have curved fingers and
toes for a better and stronger hold. We as humans dont have as curved phalanges but fairly
straightened ones. There are a few primates that have fingers that are permanently curved
because they are arboreal and live out most of their lives in the trees, never really spending time
on the ground. One of the last main characteristics of bipeds are the feet. The main difference is
the big toe. In humans we have what is called a non-opposable big toe while other primates do
like gorillas (efossils.org). Our toes are smaller and shorter in comparison as well. Humans
dont have much ability to grasp things with their toes. If humans did have longer toes it would
not be as efficient for bipedalism.
A new fossil was found in Africa after Lucy was found. This fossil was dated back to
about 4.4 million years ago. This fossil is called Ardipithecus Ramidus, or Ardi for short
(Johanson). After Lucy being the earliest found fossil from the human lineage of the primate
family, Ardi presented new evidence that showed the early evolutionary steps that our ancestors
took after we diverged from our common ancestor with chimpanzees. (Wilford)
From what researchers have found, larger brains seemed to develop after bipedalism did
which helped with tool making along with other skills. Having a larger brain gives the species a
more complex way of thinking and gives them a reasoning that is not otherwise shown in smaller
brained primates. About 1.5 to 3 million years ago A. Afarensis started appearing which is what

Lucy is classified as (Actforlibraries.org). These included Homo Habilis which had much larger
brains and signs of tool making. We have one of the largest brain-to-body ratios there is around.
We are born with a brain that doesnt fully function right away. As we grow older our brain
grows with us. We learn language, reasoning, problem-solving, how to imagine things, etc. We
have the ability to learn a lot and understand. Some early hominids may even have had the
ability to some sort of speech. I am sure as the years go on we will find even more fossil remains
that might lead us to other discoveries.