Canine Reduction

SS51000 (SS51@NEMOMUS.BITNET)
Wed, 22 Feb 1995 15:24:47 CST

M. Hill tentatively raises the mastication hypothesis for canine
reduction. J. Langdon, having admitted that the evolution of hominid
intelligence is difficult and cannot be explained with certainty,
concludes by pronouncing that side-to-side chewing *is* the reason for
canine reduction! This hypothesis arguably is at least as problematic
as the tool hypothesis but with none of the parsimonious impications
of the latter. Why so open-minded on intelligence, but so dogmatic on
canine reduction, John? --Bob Graber