Humans Walked Upright To Keep Cool

Galvasean

There have been many theories as to why humans walk upright. From gaining a height advantage which would help spot predators, to energy conversation, just about anything you can think of has been suggested at one point. The latest theory to gain support is that it was a means of regulating body temperature, ie: keeping cool.

According to this theory, our early ancestors gained an evolutionary advantage by walking upright because it is relatively cooler away from the earth’s surface when it is extremely sunny.
They would also expose less of their bodies to the sun’s rays than if they were on all-fours.
The loss of body hair would also help when living in a hot climate.
Johns Hopkins University earth scientist Benjamin Passey said: ‘The “take home'” message of our study is that this region, which is one of the key places where fossils have been found documenting human evolution, has been a really hot place for a really long time, even during the period between 3 million years ago and now when the ice ages began and the global climate became cooler.’
He said that this finding lends support to the so-called ‘thermal hypothesis’

Full article here.

A Primal Nut

Interesting. There seem to be a lot of good reasons for it. Interesting question is why it isn't more common among mammals.

caseyann

On a note of using my self as an example and others,tend to huddle down to keep warm when very cold out:o
This theory is very interesting.