Morris concluded, however, that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support. Chapter four the aquatic ape theory mermaids are real. This theory had first been proposed by an english marine biologist named alister hardy if i remember correctly and was held to explain a host of differences between homo sapiens. This book presents the latest evidence on the controversial waterside ape theory of human evolution, what used to be known as the aquatic ape theory. The first article is reprinted in elaine morgans 1982 book, the aquatic ape, along with excerpts of the other two articles showing those bits that differ from the original or add more information. Each of the individual claims is small enough in scope to be called a hypothesis wading hypothesis, hairdrag hypothesis, fatbuoyancy hypothesis, etc. For the past 150 years, scientists and laypeople alike have accepted a savanna scenario of human evolution. Although there is evidence that brachiating apes developed bipedalism in the trees, the aquatic ape theory says it was required for wading in the semi aquatic habitat under the trees. In spite of this, most scientists still dont accept the aquatic ape theory, but perhaps thats because it has an image problem. I go for riparian forest hypothesis followed by a savanna ape hypothesis. The aquatic ape theory fails as a scientific theory because it has no supporting evidence.
A few years ago, elaine morgan published a book called the aquatic ape that publicized a theory that humans, at some time in their evolution, had partially adapted to a marine environment. Evidence for the aquatic ape theory the main evidence is humans have several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. Apr 16, 2012 the aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. The features distinguishing them are far more varied than the features dividing other pairs of species which are so closely genetically related. Like modern whales that evolved from land mammals long ago, is it possible that a species of ape, descended from the same ancestors as we humans, may have evolved a flipper tail while retaining a humanlike upper body. We also have evidence our ancestors had to survive periods of extremely. What is the supporting evidence for the aquatic ape hypothesis.
Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of. In my opinion, the facts fit beautifully in the aquatic ape theory aat. African origins theory is fairly well accepted among anthropologists and archaeologists, as well as most related scientific disciplines, but there are, as with natural selection, some competing ideas. Pachtersdreef 3, 2870 putte, belgium abstract iluch more than other primates, man has several features that are seen more often in aquatic than terrestrial mammals. Evidence included the benefits of zero gravity which is why we all. This book is an update to her 1960s book the aquatic ape theory which is now sorely outofdate, so if youre going to read it, read the 1990s version called aquatic ape hypothesis. New evidence for aat comes in faster than anything i have to keep in abeyance pending further facts. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. She would write about the theory in her book the descent of women, which would go on to become an international bestseller and really increase the prominence of the aquatic ape hypothesis, and she would go on to pen other books on the matter such as the aquatic ape 1982, the scars of evolution 1990, the descent of the child 1994 and the. He waited for thirty years before publishing an account of it, having a shrewd idea how it would be received and how it might damage his career. It is unlikely that an ancestor fossil will ever be found that conclusively identifies an aquatic lifestyle because the skeleton would not necessarily reflect the aquatic adaptations.
The aquatic ape theory graham hancock official website. It seems more likely that a land animal transitions directly to fresh water. The aquatic ape theory proposes that such an aquatic phase, during which ancestral hominids relied on a water habitat, explains much of the distinctive anatomy of recent humans. Mar 23, 2020 aah aat alister hardy aquatic ape theory badjao badjao association of matina aplaya badjao conference bajau laut bajau laut conference bajo broken eardrums coral triangle davao derawan islands dha docosahexaenoic acid donald johanson dynamite fishing elaine morgan erik abrahamsson erika schagatay fish bombing grouper harry arlo nimmo hawksbill. In order to graduate from hypothesis to theory, an explanation must be supported by multiple lines of evidence. All these things, however, were stated in 1982s the aquatic ape although morgan had also falsely claimed her inaccurate statements about the evolution of the nose only appeared in her 1972 book. A key problem cited by orthodox scientists, the lack of fossil evidence for the aquatic ape theory, is ridiculous.
The aquatic ape theory is large enough in scope to be called a theory. May 07, 20 last week the aquatic ape idea was gently lampooned by the hypothesis that humans evolved in space see kate wongs summary. Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. The aquatic ape theory was an attempted explanation for why humans differ so much from the other great apes.
In a nutshell, its a book written for the nonacademic masses, so dont expect it to be written in a scholarly manner. Last week the aquatic ape idea was gently lampooned by the hypothesis that humans evolved in space see kate wongs summary. Most credible theory of human evolution new ed by morgan, elaine isbn. One theory, or hypothesis as the case may be, that tenaciously attacks the african origin theory is the aquatic ape theory. This is because the evidence is stacking up more and more towards the aquatic ape theory and against the savannah theory. Eventually they developed body parts that would ensure their survival in both land and water. The primary piece of evidence that is cited for the aquatic ape theory is the bipedal nature of humans.
The hypothesis was met with so much criticism that its not even mentioned in human evolution textbooks. Better terms are in my opinion the coastal dispersal model munro, 2010 or the littoral theory of human evolution, but although littoral seems to be a more appropriate biologi cal term here than aquatic, throughout this paper i will use the wellknown and common. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat and more recently the waterside model, is the idea that certain ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than other great apes and even many modern humans, and, as such, were habitual waders, swimmers and divers. A new aquatic ape theory science smithsonian magazine. The theory even links an aquatic existence to the evolution of human speech. Its an easy to find source so you can check out what he said as well as checking up. He was not aware that a similar idea had been published in germany during the war by. Desert dolphins scuba diving club tucson, az public group. The aquatic ape theory gets another trace of evidence.
Store smithsonian journeys smithsonian channel smithsonian books. In the decades since, morgans aquatic ape hypothesis has gained widespread support. This is the aquatic ape theory and although treated with derision by some academics over the past 50 years, it is still backed by a small, but committed group of scientists. There may be gaps in the fossil record, but it is unlikely that those gaps will be filled by new primates and entirely different from any known form in their ecology. Evolution, a suitable case for treatment new scientist. Human brain anatomy is markedly different than that of an ape, especially where the cerebral cortex is concerned. In east africa, the geologic and fossil evidence suggests that hominids. Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests. The aquatic ape theory states that our ancestors once spent a significant part of their life in water. The origins of a theory elaine morgan why a new theory is needed elaine morgan the evolution of genus homo. Presumably, early apes were plant and fruit eaters in tropical forests. We walk upright all the time, we dont have fur, we have bigger brains and are less robust, and so on. I can see two possible future scenarios for the aquatic ape theory. The savannah theory has largely been discredited by fossil evidence which demonstrates that our ancestors did not evolve on the african plains.
Apr 01, 2020 morris concluded, however, that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support. Some impressive evidence has been marshaled in support of this theory, which needs to be addressed. This idea was attacked at first by scientists, but the book became an international bestseller. Paleontologists have never found fossil evidence of this aquatic ape. A recent book outlines fossil evidence supporting the controversial hypothesis. This book presents an opinion which diverges slightly from opinions held by others. The aquatic ape hypothesis by elaine morgan goodreads. Like with other aquatic mammals, all that hair just got in the way. The loss of that culture is a loss for tawitawi, the philippines, southeast asia, and ultimately humankind. The first problem with the semiaquatic theory concerns the exostoses that rhysevans considers evidence. Their unique boatdwelling culture is now part of the realm of the mbo, or ancestors. Books and publications semiaquatic human ancestors.
Book excerpt from the waterside ape in chapter 11, surfers ear, author peter rhysevans describes a key piece of evidence he says supports his hypothesis of a brief period of semi aquatic living in early hominins. Hominids all diverged from common ancestors, but homo sapiens more radically so. The bizarre hypothesis of the aquatic ape mysterious. In support of the aquatic ape theory the post glacial. According to aquatic ape theory aat it was because they were spending a lot of time in the water. Further investigating the evolutionary branches of humanity, he explores the mounting biological evidence supporting the aquatic ape theory that our ancestors spent one or more evolutionary phases in waterand shows how these aquatic phases of humanity fall neatly into place within his revised timeline of ancient history. It is the most persuasive, closely argued case yet offered to explain the mystery of human origins.
The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat and more recently the waterside model, is the idea that certain ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than other great apes and even many modern humans, and, as. In that test, the aquatic ape has failedagain and again. Apr 28, 20 the aquatic ape theory is large enough in scope to be called a theory. Today it has all dried up, leaving a virtually impassable desert, with salt deposits thousands of feet deep. I had just watched the animal planet mockumentary on tv and was left with at least a hundred questions as to the basis of the aquatic ape theory. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory john. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic. Lalumiere is an aquatic ape viable in terms of marine ecology and primate behaviour. Nov 01, 1982 this book is an update to her 1960s book the aquatic ape theory which is now sorely outofdate, so if youre going to read it, read the 1990s version called aquatic ape hypothesis.
My book arrived both sooner and in better condition that i expected. Given the problems it still gives us millions of years later, such as back pain, hemorrhoids and hernias, bipedalism must have been necessary for some reason. Added section on ear exostoses new question 10 on the relevant questions for the aquatic ape theory page and supporting refs on the references page. The disturbing theory regarding the existence of mermaids. The aquatic ape theory 1985 which was prefaced by hardy himself. Next week they will hold a major london conference when several speakers, including david attenborough, will voice support for the theory. There is no scientific evidence supporting the aquatic ape hypothesis. The ability to walk on two legs gives us great advantages over other animals, namely the ability to move at high speeds while still having our hands available for. The aah is, in very general terms, the idea that protohumans andor early humans at some point lived at least a semi aquatic existence and that our evolution was shaped in important ways by one or more periods when our ancestors lived along rivers. This book was far more scholarly and scientific, with references and appendises, and she hoped this time, that the scientific community might begin to take her seriously. That is, i find it more likely that an aquatic ape would be living near a river than an ocean. Edited and added to pages on what is the aquatic ape theory and the aat characteristics list. Even if eventually the aquatic ape hypothesis turns out to be true, he continued, it need not completely rewrite the story of human evolution, but rather add to our species evolutionary arc a salutary christening ceremony.
The aquatic ape theory suggests that at some point in the evolutionary chain for humanity, there was a period of time when there was an aquatic or a semi aquatic stage. Apr 11, 2020 aquatic ape theory does present a compelling explanation for how a fully aquatic humanlike creature may have evolved. It was picked up by elaine morgan in her book, the naked darwinist. Peter rhysevans outlines the fossil evidence and other considerations supporting the controversial aquatic ape hypothesis.
Here are just a few reasons to think that the aquatic ape theory might not be so crazy after all. Key proponents of aat aquatic ape theory hypothesis. Desert dolphins scuba diving club tucson, az has 415 members. What is the supporting evidence for the aquatic ape theory. In 1967, the hypothesis was mentioned in the naked ape, a popular book by the zoologist desmond morris, who reduced hardys phrase more aquatic apelike ancestors to the bare aquatic ape, commenting that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support.
Ours is much larger even though it doesnt always seem that way. The need to find food sources as well as avoid predators forced them to find refuge in the sea. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat is the idea that ancestors of modern humans were. The author presents her evidence in a fair, and readable, manner. How likely is it that the aquatic ape hypothesis is true. The theory of an aquatic phase in human prehistory was conceived by sir alister hardy in 1930, when he was a young professor of marine biology at oxford. Through the process of convergent evolution, an aquatic environment offers an alternative hypothesis for certain features that humans have compared to other primates. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory. The argument for the aquatic ape theory was based mainly on facts of comparative anatomy. It is believed that humans developed the process of being able to stand on two legs as a way to be able to get out of the waters that covered the ancient world. Aquatic ape hypothesis versus savanna ape hypothesis. The aquatic evidence is convincing, and it makes more sense than the usual weak explanation of he stood up in a field of tall grass to stalk his prey. Elaine morgan, armed with an arsenal of television writing credits and feminist credentials, spent her life on a mission to prove humans evolved in water. It is a great shame the bbc recently indulged this implausible theory as it distracts from.
In a nutshell, its a book written for the nonacademic masses, so dont expect it. The aquatic ape idea is at best a hypothesis, and most of its critics refer to it as a hypothesis. This is typical of the environment we would expect an aquatic ape to evolve in. Supporters of the aquatic ape theory can provide answers to each of these questions. Fossil evidence is scarce and this has been the main reason why critics have been reluctant to consider the theory.
The aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. The aquatic ape theory or aquatic ape hypothesis has been in the air for decades now. A gorilla in the congo wading in a swamp image courtesy of wikicommons. Mar 15, 20 explores biological evidence for the aquatic ape theory and 20millionyearold evidence of prehuman cultures from which we are not descended traces the genesis of modern human civilization to indonesia and the central pacific a comprehensive exploration of earths ancient past, the evolution of humanity, the rise of civilization, and the. One quick search on amazon got me directed to this dealer and within about 3 days i had it in my hands. The supporting evidence that tries to prove the theory true lies in the existence of hominid fossils in coast of east and south africa. It is believed that humans developed the process of being able to stand on two legs as a way to be able to get. Mar 17, 2017 despite this research is seen as pseudo science, morgan continued writing on the subject in the aquatic ape, the scars of evolution, and the aquatic ape hypothesis. Zoologist desmond john morris used hardys aquatic ape hypothesis to explain why we are so nimble in the water today, and why our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees, are so helpless and quickly drown. Book excerpt from the waterside ape the scientist magazine. Book excerpt from the waterside ape in chapter 11, surfers ear, author peter rhysevans describes a key piece of evidence he says supports his hypothesis of a brief period of semiaquatic living in early hominins. Another implicit argument against it is that there is very little archaeological evidence for the exploitation of aquatic food in the premodernhuman archaeological record.
Proponents of the aquatic ape theory compare the predictions of their model with the predictions that they derive for a traditionalist model, which they term the. The aquatic ape 1982 was followed by the scars of evolution 1990, descent of the child 1995, the aquatic ape hypothesis 1997 and others. The aquatic ape hypothesis is one of these, now championed by sir david. Proponents of the aquatic ape theory compare the predictions of their model. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes. The waterside ape presents the latest evidence on the controversial waterside ape theory of human evolution, what used to be known as the aquatic ape theory. Could a condition known as surfers ear provide evidence for a different take on human evolution. Synopsis this thoughtprovoking text presents the aquatic ape theory, with new information, new questions and a wealth of documentary evidence. What struck me the most in this book was, not the feminist angle, but the aquatic ape hypothesis.
Further investigating the evolutionary branches of humanity, he explores the mounting biological evidence supporting the aquatic ape theorythat our ancestors spent one or more evolutionary phases in waterand shows how these aquatic phases of humanity fall neatly into place within his revised timeline of ancient history. A challenge to langdons 1997 critique of the aquatic ape hypothesis has still not been published despite the paper appearing to have a number of weaknesses which deserve a response. The term aquatic ape gives an incorrect impression of our semi aquatic ancestors. Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution. Humans differ from apes in a surprising number of ways.
632 748 15 1140 1236 886 1527 1073 1085 652 1580 405 1360 236 153 1305 799 556 898 301 1420 150 270 60 231 602 502 1363 624 261 1332 667 1091 1250 1293 1428 268 805