Answer to Question #113266 in Evolution for NIBEDITA RUDRA

Question

State three characteristics that showed that
Homo erectus could stand erect and three
such characteristics that placed them closer
to apes than humans.

Answer 1

In particular, H. erectus had

1. relatively elongated legs
2. shorter arms
3. similar torso proportions to those seen in modern humans.

This suggests it had adapted to walking on two feet in a more open, grassland environment, rather than swinging from tree branch to branch. Unlike Australopithecus fossils, Homo erectus fossils don't preserve features related to climbing.

Apes characteristics shared with H. erectus

• Dental development is similar to primates (molar teeth had large roots but were decreasing toward a more modern size)
• the skulls of Homo erectus were quite different to those of modern humans (jaw was large and thick without a pointed chin)
• the body (known only from the Chinese specimens) tended to be shorter and stockier than those of modern humans and similar with apes stature