Running man

If walking upright first set early human ancestors apart from their ape cousins, it may have been their eventual ability to run long distances with a springing step over the African savanna that influenced the transition to today's human body form, two researchers are reporting today. . . Endurance running, unique to humans among primates and uncommon in all mammals other than dogs, horses and hyenas, apparently evolved at least two million years ago and probably let human ancestors hunt and scavenge over great distances. That was probably decisive in the pursuit of high-protein food for development of large brains.

ADDENDUM: David Schuler has some additional thoughts at The Glittering Eye. Running dogs? Takes one to know one, I guess.

Posted by David on November 19, 2004 9:22 PM