Friday, October 02, 2009

On the Origin of Snacks

While I've always maintained that my ma ape might be the evolutionary link between chimps and humans, Sophie alerted me today that scientists have made a new discovery! The oldest human ancestor found to date! And she suggests humans descended from even OLDER species of apes than gorillas n' chimps!

Here's a picture of the old lady:


She is most interesting because it appears her sort were bipeds on land and quadripeds in the trees. This is quite unusual and they have an interesting explanation.

Lovejoy sees these changes as part of an epochal shift in social behavior: Instead of fighting for access to females, a male Ardipithecus would supply a "targeted female" and her offspring with gathered foods and gain her sexual loyalty in return.

To keep up his end of the deal, a male needed to have his hands free to carry home the food. Bipedalism may have been a poor way for Ardipithecus to get around, but through its contribution to the "sex for food" contract, it would have been an excellent way to bear more offspring.

While the Elliot Spitzer Theory of Evolution is interesting I would like to propose another explanation. The apes weren't bringing home the bacon for the ladies, they were already realizing the key to advancement was befriending the apes' superior. As in our household, all groceries lead to:

The apes needed good grasping devices for procuring and delivering snacks to their intellectual leaders:

And here is a gratuitous photo of me eating food. I didn't even have to do anything in exchange, just be my usual handsome and noble self.

Now apes, go fetch me my grub as evolution dictates!

Thank you to Sophie Brador for sending me this article to allow me to make my highly scientific analysis of human evolution. I will bring you with me when I pick up my Nobel Prize in Stockholm.

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8 Comments:

Blogger Gus said...

most erudite, as we have come to expect from you. Hope your bipeds bring home lots of bacon. It is one of my personal favorites.

gussie

7:44 PM  
Blogger Dexter said...

Humans are very easy to train. No clicker required.

Slobbers,
Mango

My word is supperr (yummers)

8:45 PM  
Blogger NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

We saw Ardi's story on the news -

She rokhks!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

10:00 PM  
Blogger Sally Ann and Andy said...

Wally, you are very verbose sometimes(in a good way).
Sally Ann

10:16 PM  
Blogger Moose said...

Very intriguing theory Wally! Your blog is always so cutting edge and thought provoking!
Moose + Dana

6:21 AM  
Blogger Sophie Brador said...

I'm packing my bag!

xo
SB

8:08 AM  
Blogger Joe Stains said...

Well can I come just to be your bodyguard? I hear the pupperazzi are all over those nobel prize winners!

11:32 AM  
Blogger Emily and Ike said...

Excellent interpretation of the evidence, but I think asking Joe Stains about bringing Sophie on a trip might be in order - for your safety.
Ike

5:36 PM  

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