Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing traced the rise of upright walking in primates through three distinct phases. The findings were shared in a scientific journal called Innovation.
The team studied the size and shape of the semicircular canals in the inner ear of the extinct primate Lufengpithecus using advanced 3D multiscale and multimodal imaging. They then compared these inner-ear structures with fossil data from other species and with modern monkeys. The comparison led to the conclusion that the shift to upright locomotion in primates occurred in three stages.
In the earliest stage, the first primates moved through the forest canopy in a manner reminiscent of today’s Asian gibbons. In the next stage, the last common ancestors of monkeys and humans learned to climb, hang by their hands, and maneuver on both two and four limbs. In the final stage, a sustained pattern of upright walking emerged from this broad repertoire of movement strategies.
A separate line of evidence suggests that humans settled Europe earlier than previously believed, prompting a reassessment of early human dispersal timelines. This emphasis on revised geographic placements aligns with the broader narrative of primate evolution and human ancestry, highlighting how new methods and data reshape longstanding models. The study underscores the value of integrating detailed anatomical analysis with cross-species comparisons to illuminate the steps along the path to modern human locomotion. (Source: Innovation journal; data and interpretations derived from imaging studies and fossil comparisons.)