BIPEDAL LOCOMOTION

Introduction

Many reasons have been suggested for the development of the upright, bipedal form of locomotion
in hominids. Some researchers suggest that hominid ancestors were predisposed to this by the very
fact that they spent time hanging in the trees in a vertical position. An upright posture was more
comfortable for them, so when forested areas diminished and wooded savannah became
widespread, they were biologically ready to take up the challenge.

It is speculated that the change to walking on two feet could have occurred in order to:
• Allow food or offspring to be carried in the arms when crossing open country
• See predators or prey across the tall savannah grass
• Improve thermoregulation by enhancing body heat loss and reducing the body's surface area
exposed to the sun
• Increasing efficiency of locomotion.

Aim

To compare the arm length of modern humans with those of

primate relatives and hominid ancestors.

Method and Results

Measuring Arm and Leg Lengths

1. Have a friend measure to the nearest centimetre, the length of
your leg from the ground to your hip joint. You must be
standing flat-footed and without shoes. This measurement is
shown on the diagram. Note, you will have to locate the top of
your femur with your finger so your friend can measure to it
(Don't confuse this with the top edge of your pelvis).

2. Have a friend measure to the nearest centimetre, the length of

your outstretched arm. This is taken from the outside end of
your clavical to the tip of your outstretched fingers. Again, this
measurement is shown on the diagram. You will need to locate
the end of your clavical, a distinct bump, so your friend can measure to this.

Question one: Speculate as to why measurements are taken from these particular points on your
body.

Question two: Suggest other valid measurements of leg length.

3. Record your measurements, and those of the rest of the class in the table below.
4. For each individual's set of measurements, divide the leg length by the arm length and record in
the table - the "leg length to arm length ratio" for that person.

Name Leg Length Arm Length Ratio

(cm) (cm) Leg length: Arm length
(cm)
Nick
Andrea
Mieke
Chantal
Rhiarne
Kirk
Scott
James
Sarah
Josie
Danella

Question three: When comparing leg and arm measurements, why is the ratio more useful than the
raw arm and leg length data?

5. Use the ratios to fill out the tally chart below.

Ratio Tally 6.
Species Leg Length/Arm
G
Length ratio
0.91-1.00 r
Gibbon 0.56
a
1.01-1.10 p h
Orangutan 0.49
1.11-1.20 Gorilla 0.69
Chimp 0.66
1.21-1.30 Australopithecus 0.88
1.31-1.40 afarensis
1.41-1.50 Australopithecus 0.85
africanus
your tallied figures as frequency Homo Erectus 1.19
distribution. (Turkana Boy)
7. On the same graph, rule a vertical line to represent each of the leg to arm length ratios of
primate relatives and hominid ancestors form the top right table.

Question four: Which animal has the shortest legs compared with its arms?

Question five: What do you notice about the leg to arm ratios of the brachiating primates (primates
that swing from branch to branch), compared with the hominids?

Question six:
(i) Which species appear to be "transitional" in terms of these ratios?
(ii) In terms of bipedalism, what may have been happening at this time?

Question seven: Do the leg to arm ratios support the idea of A. africanus being a descendent of A.
afarensis? Explain your answer.

Question eight: Using your graph, explain why Homo erectus has the species name "erectus".

Question nine: Speculate as to whether you think the legs of modern humans will in the future
become even longer compared with their arms.