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MAJOR PUBLICATIONS
1. Jablonski, N.G. and Chaplin, G. Becoming
bipedal: How do theories of bipedalization stand up to anatomical
scrutiny? In: Anapol, F., German, R.Z., and Jablonski, N.G.,
(eds.) Shaping Primate Evolution: Form, Function and Behavior.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 281-296.
2. Jablonski, N.G., Chaplin, G., and McNamara,
K.J. (2001) Natural selection and the evolution of hominid
patterns of growth and development. In: Minugh-Purvis, N.
and McNamara, K.J., (eds.) Human Evolution through Developmental
Change. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press,
pp. 189-206.
3. Chaplin, G., Jablonski, N.G., and Cable,
N.T. (1994) Physiology, thermoregulation and bipedalism. J.
Hum. Evol. 27:497-510.
4. Jablonski, N.G. and Chaplin, G. (1993)
Origin of
habitual terrestrial bipedalism in the ancestor of the Hominidae.
J. Hum. Evol. 24:259-280.
5. Jablonski, N.G. and Chaplin, G. (1992)
The origin of hominid bipedalism re-examined. Archaeol. Oceania
29:115-125.
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KEY PUBLICATION
JABLONSKI, NINA G. AND GEORGE CHAPLIN. Origin of habitual terrestrial
bipedalism in the ancestor of the Hominidae. Journal of
Human Evolution 24(4):259-280.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, the evolution of habitual terrestrial bipedalism
in the stem proto-hominid is reconstructed through an examination
of historical transformations of shared derived morphological-behavioural
complexes related to bipedalism in catarrhines. This historical
reconstruction indicates that the bipedal threat display-appeasement
behaviour complex may be of particular importance in understanding
the origin of habitual terrestrial bipedalism because it is
the most recently acquired morphological-behavioural complex
shared by the African great apes and humans.
We suggest that in the late middle and late Miocene of East
Africa, as habitats were becoming more open and desiccated and
resources more widely separated, increased intraspecific competition
among pre-hominids for resources ensued. We propose that bipedal
displays and their appeasement were the behaviours essential
to the success of pre-hominids in this environment in that they
allowed for the relatively peaceful resolution of intragroup
and intraspecific conflicts. This theory provides a major, proximate
pre-adaptive cause for the later adoption of bipedalism by proposing
the use of an existing behaviour in a new environmental context,
namely increased use of, and deference to bipedal displays to
mitigate violence and make possible the equitable allocation
of scarce resources. It is suggested that this increased the
evolutionary fitness of pre-hominids by removing a major cause
of morbidity and mortality observed in living African apes,
i.e. intra- and intergroup aggression.
This theory of the origin of habitual terrestrial bipedalism
in the ancestor of the Hominidae differs from others in that
it is consistent with available environmental, palaeontological,
anatomical and behavioural evidence and known types of social
organization in extant hominoids.
Bipedal postures, once adopted for social control, would have
become common elements of the pre-hominid locomotor repertoire.
With time, this new locomotor mode would have become increasingly
multifunctional.
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