An Ape's View of Human Evolution [Hardcover]

This book brings together ecology, evolution, genetics, anatomy and geology to provide a new perspective on human evolution from the apes' viewpoint.Whilst many books have addressed human evolution and the human fossil record, very few have examined our fossil ape relatives. This volume synthesises genetic, ecological and anatomical data to develop a unique account of what we know about our last common ancestor and how they lived.Whilst many books have addressed human evolution and the human fossil record, very few have examined our fossil ape relatives. This volume synthesises genetic, ecological and anatomical data to develop a unique account of what we know about our last common ancestor and how they lived.Our closest living relatives are the chimpanzee and bonobo. We share many characteristics with them, but our lineages diverged millions of years ago. Who in fact was our last common ancestor? Bringing together ecology, evolution, genetics, anatomy and geology, this book provides a new perspective on human evolution. What can fossil apes tell us about the origins of human evolution? Did the last common ancestor of apes and humans live in trees or on the ground? What did it eat, and how did it survive in a world full of large predators? Did it look anything like living apes? Andrews addresses these questions and more to reconstruct the common ancestor and its habitat. Synthesising thirty-five years of work on both ancient environments and fossil and modern ape anatomy, this book provides unique new insights into the evolutionary processes that led to the origins of the human lineage.Preface; 1. How can we recognise common ancestors?; Part I. Apes  Their Morphology and Behaviour: 2. Morphology and behaviour of living apes; 3. Human and ape phylogenies; 4. Review of fossil apes; Part II. Environments and Palaeoenvironments: 5. Structure and composition of ape environments; 6. Environmental indicators; Part III. Review of Fossil Apes - Morphology and Environment: 7l³¶