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Effects of Past Global Change on Life (1995) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 236-237

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From page 236...
... Delayed development offered the key advantage of producing a large brain during the first year, thus permitting the immense human learning process to proceed rapidly at a very young age. THE LIFE OF GRACILE AUSTRALOPITHECINES Even if clinging neonates permitted australopithecines to engage in arboreal activity, habitual climbing would have been possible only if the adults possessed appropriate adaptations.
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From page 237...
... Finally, the relatively small body sizes of gracile australopithecines would have facilitated climbing by offering a higher ratio of strength to weight than characterizes modern humans. New estimates suggest that females averaged about 30 kg and males about 45 kg (McHenry, 1991~.
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Key Terms

  • modern humans
  • arboreal activity
  • body size
  • gracile australopithecines
  • brain growth

  • postnatal interval
  • gracile australopithecine


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