Insights into Ape Locomotor Evolution and the Origins of Bipedalism

with Dave Raichlen and Michael Sockol

This project explores the biomechanics and energetics of chimpanzee bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion. Kinematic, kinetic, and energetics data are combined to identifiy the determinants of chimpanzee costs of locomotion during different locomotor modes. We hope to apply this new understanding of chimpanzee locomotion to the fossil record to understand whether energetics could have played a role in the evolution of human bipedalism.

Sockol, M.D., Raichlen, D.A., Pontzer, H. (2007) Chimpanzee locomotor energetics and the origin of human bipedalism. PNAS. 30, 12265-12269.

This project is supported by the LSB Leakey Foundation, and was recently covered by National Geographic, among others (see HEBL Lab News)