The question that needs to be answered is, was H f.'s closest kin, H habilis, flat footed?
Actually, the question that needs to be answered is: do you have anything more than Jungers' glib statement in a news article for
NewScientist from your
Message 151? (It would be nice if you'd tell us where you get your quotes.)
Why didn't you use
nature's take on H. floresiensis' running capacity:
quote:
For instance, because the foot lacks a well-defined medial longitudinal arch, recovery of stored elastic energy would have been limited in comparison with modern humans, especially during running, when mass-spring mechanics replace the pendular mechanics of walking. With a short hallux, relatively long lateral rays and a weight-bearing navicular tuberosity, pressure transfer through the foot in support phase and at toe-off also probably differed from modern humans. Kinematic differences related to clearance of the foot in swing phase would have been evident during both walking and running. The foot of H. floresiensis was not well-designed for either
high-speed or efficient endurance running.
Wasn't it dramatic enough to support your conformation bias? Note that it says H. floresiensis would have had evident kinematic differences during both walking and running; not "during waddling like a penguin with bunions"? Now, why do you think they'd bother to mention running if they were under the impression that H. floresiensis couldn't run at all, at all? They didn't mention H. floresiensis' shoulder structure would have hindered its ability to fly.
Do you have anything from Jungers' (or any) scientific papers to support your contention of H. floresiensis' sub-par abilities to use its own feet to eke out a living on land?
AbE: I just realized this is all off topic as I was wondering why RAZD and Bluejay kept going on about hair. One would think the "fur" bit in the title would have clued me, but no. Don't bother answering me, aa. I'll get about my way.
Edited by lyx2no, : Grammar.
Edited by lyx2no, : Sorry, OT.
Edited by lyx2no, : Typos-n-stuff.
It is far easier for you, as civilized men, to behave like barbarians than it was for them, as barbarians, to behave like civilized men.
Spock: Mirror Mirror