Study Sheds Light on Why Humans Walk on Two Legs

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This trained chimp works out to help answer why humans walk on two legs. The face mask measures oxygen consumption. The paint spots on the chimps joints aid in video-assisted biomechanical analysis. (Photo copyright Cary Wolinsky)
This trained chimp works out to help answer why humans walk on two legs. The face mask measures oxygen consumption. The paint spots on the chimp's joints aid in video-assisted biomechanical analysis. (Photo copyright Cary Wolinsky)

A team of anthropologists that studied chimpanzees trained to use treadmills has gathered new evidence suggesting that our earliest apelike ancestors started walking on two legs because it required less energy than getting around on all fours.


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