Naked Ape Research Paper

We look back on history to look at the anatomy and physiology of the human to see what it must have been like and compare that to the chimpanzees. Like the chimpanzees humans used to have their skin covered with hair but when it was exposed to sunlight, the hair must have fallen off. Which leads to the question “When did we lose our hair?” (169).

Primates first evolved from the trees of tropical forests, later to the ground. Through the times of promisians to human, many characteristics has been represented due to the adaptations to new environments and resulted in evolutionary changes. The Earth has encountered several geological and climatic changes over time. For the primates existed at that time had to adjust itself especially in body configurations and locomotion in order to better survive. It is important to be aware of this information since we are the part of occurring changes as well. Throughout the evolution owing to

The fundamental physical prerequisites of people , just like all organisms , are : water, for various metabolic process; foods, to provide energy, raw materials for developing entirely new living matter, as well as chemical substances required for vital reactions; oxygen, to discharge energy from foods materials; heat, to enhance chemical effects; and also pressure, to enable inhaling and exhaling” This like this article and think that it relates to . To be able to understand how humans evolved from early existence forms, we can quickly take a look at our closest relatives, the primates. Primates consist of us (Homo sapiens), the apes, the monkeys, as well as prosimians, for example, the lemur. We can easily be familiar with primate behavior

Another cause for the move to bipedalism was suggested by Wheeler in 1991 and it referred to thermal regulation (Jacobs, 90). This theory stated that bipedalism resolved thermal stress on hominids in open equatorial environments and allowed hominids to remain active in the open during the day (Leney, 00). Having bipedal qualities makes the body higher off the ground where cooler temperatures and higher winds are present. This greater amount of wind created less need for sweating to cause evaporation; thus vital body fluid was conserved. Also, direct solar exposure was minimized because the surface area receiving solar rays was less (Jacobs, 90).

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum was a period of time around the Paleocene-Eocene boundary during which the Earth experienced a significant rise in temperature. As we discussed in class January 27-February 3, the PETM period conveniently coincides with primate evolution and dispersal worldwide. This period of thermal increase is important to primate evolution because this rise in temperature worldwide created an ideal, survivable environment for primates globally. This rise in temperature encouraged primates to expand their territories into areas not previously inhabitable, such as the Arctic Circle. Additionally, I believe that the PETM may have encouraged primates to evolve into broader adaptive radii in order to exploit more tropical food sources and landscapes. In general, it is acknowledged that the PETM allowed primates to become more pervasive worldwide.

One well know organization that is out there trying to fight for the rights of Great Apes is, the Great Ape Project (GAP), located São Paulo - SP - Brazil. GAP is an international movement that aims to defend the rights of non-human great primates, which are the closest relatives in the animal kingdom. They believe that the abuse of great apes in laboratories, circus, entertainment shows, and zoo can be considered as a kind of slavery. When great apes are unable to be release to the forest because of mistreatment, this is when the mission turns to provide the best quality of life and state of welfare for the animal in captivity. They state that in the sanctuaries, chimpanzees are treated for physical and psychological traumas and stress caused

As mentioned earlier, the Neandertals possessed large, stocky physiques that were built to withstand the frosty weather. This is an example of a biological adaptation in response to their terrain. Without their large builds, the Neandertals would not stand a chance in the wintry weather. Along with their biological adaptation, Neandertals adopted behavioral changes as well. They even began clothing themselves. It is said, Neandertals used animal skins and hides to protect themselves from the cold (Stanton, et al., 2013, p. 405). While they clothed themselves, it was not fully effective protection against hypothermia. Hypothermia is a probable explanation to the extinction of the Neandertals; however, the Neandertals avoided the climate by seasonally migrating over long distances or by moving as overall conditions get colder (or warmer) during all parts of the year (Stanton, et al., 2013, p. 406). With their migration system, they were out in the open and inadequate portable insulation had additional ramifications for Neandertal survival (Gilligan, 2007, p. 507). The Neandertals lived nomadic lifestyles and that contributed to compromises in their hunting and gather activities as well as their fertility rates (Gilligan, 2007, p. 507). There was an evident rise in their adult mortality rates alongside with their even higher infant mortality, in view of the fact that they render infants more prone to hypothermia as

There is a statement where the authors state they are not in support of thermoregulation being part of the evolution to bipedalism (Ruxton, & Wilkinson, 2011). Some anthropologist attempt to explain how hair lost is part thermoregulation and the reason hominins becoming bipedal. Wheeler believed that thermoregulation causes the lost of body hair. He concluded that haired bipeds where favored in open habitat However, with all of Wheeler’s research the nakedness of the body possibly happened in a forested area and before or around the time organisms started walking on two limbs, not after. The use of thermoregulation as a base of evolutionary change appears to be invalid according to the aouther. Thermoregulation changed with bipedality it did not cause it. (do Amaral,

Compared to Wheeler who proposes the increasing loss of human hair is strictly due to bipedalism and thermoregulation. Both scientists provide a significant amount of evidence to support their claims about the evolution of human hair loss. According to Pagel and Bodmer, the ectoparasite hypothesis is the most plausible explanation for hairlessness in humans (Pagel and Bodmer 2003). The body-cooling hypothesis remains one of the best known proposals. In 1984, wheeler argued that the loss of body hair occurred when hominids moved to open savannah environments (Pagel and Bodmer 2003). Furthermore, it is believed reduced susceptibility to parasites was a desirable trait in mate selection (Pagel and Bodmer 2003). This selective trait is emphasized as a selected advantage among humans. Sir Ronald Fisher, a found of modern genetically based thinking states an ectoparasite hypothesis. The hypothesis claims initial amounts of body hair may then have been reinforced by Fisherian or other forms of sexual selection (Pagel and Bodmer 2003). Reduced body hair was desirable in both sexes as it also brought a reduction in ectoparasites. Furthermore it is argued by Pagel that natural selection might initially favor less hairy individuals, as they have fewer

The Australopithecus genus of human like apes walked the earth about 1.9 million years ago however variations of Australopithecus have been estimated to be around as early as 4.5 million years ago. The Australopithecus genus is a set of early upright walking ape species, these early ancestors generally looked more apelike than human as fur still covered most of their bodies and their slanted flat faces and forward jaws still resembled apes more than recent humans. Features more common to later genus homo have been found present on the various Australopithecus species; namely features such as its smaller teeth, longer legs, less hand like feet, adapted pelvis, stronger reliance on bipedalism and slightly increased relative brain size all distinguished

Have you ever wondered about gorillas? A gorilla is a very strong built great ape with a large head and short neck. Gorillas are the largest member of the primate family. Gorillas are quiet, shy, peaceful, and live in central Africa and tropical rainforests. Several thousand years ago, gorillas split from its closest relative the chimpanzees. There are four types of gorillas, being Eastern lowland, Western lowland, mountain, and cross river gorillas. Ecology is how organism interact with one another and the environment. It is the study of relationships between two living organisms.

In Asia, the largest tree-dwelling mammal and only great ape continues to die out. What is it? The orangutan. Humans destroy entire populations of orangutan, advertently and inadvertently, so people need to stop and save this amazing primate before it becomes too late.

One of the hypotheses show that bipedal mutation might caused by hairless mutation which separated the early chimpanzee to hairless human and hairy chimpanzee lineages. (Sotou 2012). Based on the behaviors of apes or monkeys, the babies attach themselves to their mother by grasping the mother’s hair, therefore the female apes or monkeys could use their hands to climb or walk (Sotou 2012). On the contrast, hairless mutation has to force the mothers to use their hands to carry their baby due to the baby has nothing to grasp, thereby compelling the mothers to stand upright (Sotou 2012). During the transform, hominins gained the opportunity to divide their forelimbs from quadrupedal locomotion to evolve some human behaviors and increasingly enhance the dexterity of hind limbs (Sotou

“Primate is the order of warm blooded animals that includes prosimians and anthropoids.” (Bonvillain and Miller 2013: 318). As an example, in the same way as monkeys and apes. “The hominids are also the members of the order Primates” (Bonvillain and Miller 2013: 251). When people comparing human with other primates, the first mind come into people’s thought is body hair, since the body of hair is one of the most unique changes from apes to hominid evolution. Besides, “a Humans skin is the most visible aspect of the human phenotype. It is recognized principally by its naked appearance” (Jablonski 2004: 585). People likewise always ask a question that why the body hair of people have disappeared, however why people still have so much hair on our heads? Most researchers believe that hominid especially for modern human does not require such a great amount of hair to keep body warm and bare skin plays a significant role in sexual selection.

The chimpanzee is such a fascinating animal. I’ve never known how similar chimpanzees and humans are. I knew we shared common traits, but not to the extent of using tools to gather food. Also, having similar emotional connections and the ability to learn.