The significance of changes in body mass in human evolution

Bibliographic Data

ID4614440
AuthorsTrenton W Holliday (0000-0002-2653-9122, Tulane University, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume27
Issue3-4
Pages101-109
Publication date2015-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCahiers du Centre de recherches anthropologiques (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1297-7810 • E-ISSN: 1777-5469
PublisherOpenEdition (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s13219-015-0133-6
OpenAlexW1413843227
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited71

Body mass changes in the Hominini are examined from an evolutionary perspective. Among the conclusions drawn from this examination are the following: 1.) hominids (sensu lato) are among the largest and most terrestrial primates; 2.) early Homo is on average larger in size than Australopithecus (although the two taxa do show some size overlap); 3.) following its emergence in the early Pleistocene, Homo shows a steady increase in body mass, reaching its maximum near the end of the middle Pleistocene; 4.) Homo subsequently decreases in size throughout the late Pleistocene and into the Holocene, only to increase in size again very recently (the so-called "secular trend"); 5.) body mass variation among humans today tends to follow well-known ecogeographical "rules", which are empirical observations with multiple potential theoretical explanations

Archaeology · Australopithecus · Biology · Geography · Pleistocene · Secular variation · Sensu · Sociology · Zoology · Demography · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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