Friday, January 28, 2011

Early Humans Left the Trees 4.2 Million Years Ago

A reconstructed head of Australopithecus afarensis for an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. John Gurche/Smithsonian

Humans Left Trees 4.2 Million Years Ago -- Discovery News

Wrist bones of human ancestors reveal when humans switched from living in trees to on the ground.

* Fossilized wrist bones suggest humans switched from trees to a terrestrial lifestyle between 4.2 and 3.5 million years ago.
* Tree dwellers experience more stress on the pinky side of their hands while terrestrial species tend to load more stress on the thumb side.
* The timing of the switch coincides with climate and habitat changes and a shift in diet.

Read more ....

My Comment: We've gone a long way in 4.2 million years.

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