Endurance running hypothesis
Human evolution hypothesis / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The endurance running hypothesis is a series of conjectures which presume humans evolved anatomical and physiological adaptations to run long distances[1][2][3] and, more strongly, that "running is the only known behavior that would account for the different body plans in Homo as opposed to apes or australopithecines".[4]
The hypothesis posits a significant role of endurance running in facilitating early hominins' ability to obtain meat. Proponents of this hypothesis propose that endurance running served as a means for hominins to effectively engage in persistence hunting and carcass poaching, thus enhancing their competitive edge in acquiring prey. Consequently, these evolutionary pressures have led to the prominence of endurance running as a primary factor shaping many biomechanical characteristics of modern humans.