Only in Africa: The Ecology of Human Evolution

The book builds on the Out of Africa theory and argues that the evolutionary transitions from a forest-inhabiting frugivore to a savanna-dwelling meat-eater could have occurred only in Africa due to its distinctive ecological circumstances. It describes the unique features of Africa's ecology, with an emphasis on savanna grasslands, and how they relate to the evolutionary transitions linking early ape-men to modern humans.

Format: Hardback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The notion that humans originated in Africa is widely accepted, but it is often perceived as a mere coincidence, attributing our origins solely to the location where our common ancestor coexisted with great apes. This book expands upon the Out of Africa theory and posits that the evolutionary transformations from forest-dwelling frugivores to savanna-dwellers exclusively took place in Africa. It argues that the ecological factors that shaped these transitions were unique to Africa. The book delves into the distinctive features of African ecology, particularly focusing on savanna grasslands, and establishes a connection between these ecological characteristics and the evolutionary pathways that led from early ape-men to modern humans. It demonstrates how the continent's physical features, particularly those influenced by plate tectonics, laid the groundwork for our existence. This volume effectively communicates that our presence is a result of the distinctive ecological characteristics of Africa.

The notion that humans originated in Africa is widely accepted, but it is often perceived as a mere coincidence, attributing our origins solely to the location where our common ancestor coexisted with great apes. This book expands upon the Out of Africa theory and posits that the evolutionary transformations from forest-dwelling frugivores to savanna-dwellers exclusively took place in Africa. It argues that the ecological factors that shaped these transitions were unique to Africa. The book delves into the distinctive features of African ecology, particularly focusing on savanna grasslands, and establishes a connection between these ecological characteristics and the evolutionary pathways that led from early ape-men to modern humans. It demonstrates how the continent's physical features, particularly those influenced by plate tectonics, laid the groundwork for our existence. This volume effectively communicates that our presence is a result of the distinctive ecological characteristics of Africa.

Weight: 868g
Dimension: 176 x 250 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108832595
Edition number: New ed