title: Aquatic versus Savanna: comparative and paleo-environmental evidence.
abstract: This paper begins by comparing anatomical and physiological features of humans and other groups of mammals (apes and arboreal mammals, open-country dwellers, fully aquatic mammals, and semi-aquatics), in order to establish the nature of the environment where Homo originated. It concludes that the evidence completely invalidates the savanna theory and strongly favours the semi-aquatic hypothesis. The second part points out that nothing in the fossil record disproves this conclusion, and quotes paleo-environmental evidence concerning the milieu where the ancient hominids fossilized.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verhaegen
mesh_terms: D000717:Anatomy, Comparative; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002591:Cetacea; D004777:Environment; D015186:Hominidae; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals; D010163:Paleontology; D011323:Primates