Re: Why is Homo sapiens hairless?
Barry Mennen (barrym2@ix.netcom.com(Barry)
19 Nov 1996 15:11:50 GMT
In <susansfE13KKu.L4v@netcom.com> susansf@netcom.com (Susan S. Chin)
writes:
>
>: In article <01bbd4c2$6600e820$LocalHost@dan-pc>
>: rohinton@collins.prestel.co.uk "Rohinton Collins" writes:
>: > Whether it was hunting/foraging/scavenging, it would certainly
>: > have given her species an advantage, one that would have perhaps
have even
>: > been necessary for her species to become successful terrestrial
bipeds.
>: > After all, there were plenty of other species of mammal which had
been
>: > around in this niche for a lot longer.
>: > But I do agree that the australopithecines
>: > most probably did not hunt. But they certainly foraged and
scavenged.
>
>Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk) wrote:
>: There is no evidence at all for scavenging. And how would they get
>: to the kills before all the other predators?
>
>I believe the hypothesis put forth by Rob Blumenschine is that early
>hominids were opportunistic scavengers, finding sources of protein and
>fat in a part of the carcass the other predators and scavengers could
not
>get at: the marrow inside long bone shafts, which is rich in fat. In
>order to access this marrow, early hominids would need to use simple
>stone implements which could splinter the bone shaft... if the carcass
is
>relatively fresh, the marrow should be as well. This came from (and I
am
>rather reluctant to admit) one of the "Ancestors" NOVA installations.
Anyone
>have published citations of Blumenschine's research?
>
>Susan
>
>--
> susansf@netcom.com
Predators could not get to the marrow? Crushing bones is easy for
hyenas, lions, etc. Talk about "just-so" stories...
Barry
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