Body, Evolution of

Christopher B. Ruff

doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.81028-4

Body, Evolution of

Christopher B. Ruff

School of Medicine

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

The earliest stages in the evolution of the human body (2-6. Ma) involved a gradual adaptation to terrestrial bipedality through various structural modifications. Body size in these early ancestors was smaller, but sexual dimorphism larger than in modern humans. With the evolution of Homo erectus about 1.5-2.0. Ma, essentially modern body proportions and levels of sexual dimorphism were established. Body size reached a peak between about 50. 000 and 500. 000. years ago and has declined on average since then. Body shape variation among both earlier Homo and modern humans is strongly conditioned by climatic adaptation.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition
Publisher	Elsevier Inc.
Pages	723-727
Number of pages	5
ISBN (Electronic)	9780080970875
ISBN (Print)	9780080970868
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.81028-4
State	Published - Mar 26 2015

Keywords

Adaptation
Bipedality
Body
Body mass
Climate
Ecogeographic
Evolution
Hominin
Human
Locomotion
Sexual dimorphism
Size

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Social Sciences

Access to Document

10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.81028-4

Cite this

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KW - Locomotion

KW - Sexual dimorphism

KW - Size

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ER -

Body, Evolution of

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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