Month: February 2025

Savanna Hypothesis – A theory that suggests bipedalism evolved as early hominins moved into open grassland environments.

Energy Efficiency Hypothesis – The theory that bipedalism evolved to reduce energy expenditure in long-distance travel.

Stride Length – The distance covered in one step, which increased in early hominins to improve walking efficiency.

Opposable Toe – A feature of primates used for grasping; early hominins lost this trait as they became fully bipedal.

Arched Foot – A foot structure in humans that helps absorb shock and provides propulsion in bipedal walking.

Femoral Angle – The inward angle of the thigh bone (femur) that helps balance the body in bipedal walking.

Pelvic Reshaping – Adaptations in the pelvis, such as a shorter and wider shape, that support bipedal locomotion.

Foramen Magnum Position – The placement of the spinal cord opening in the skull; in bipedal species, it is located centrally under the skull.

Knuckle-Walking – A type of quadrupedal locomotion where primates, such as chimpanzees and gorillas, walk on their knuckles.

Facultative Bipedalism – Temporary bipedal walking, seen in some primates that primarily move quadrupedally.