Why do We Stand on Our Own Two Feet?

Scientists aren’t exactly sure of this question. Why we humans walk on two feet is a mystery. It goes back to at least 3 million years ago, when the early hominid Lucy lived. However, it may have been a lot further back in the past. Humans are the only species known that can walk consistently on two feet. There have been several theories made to predict why we started. A certain fact is that we were bipedal (could walk on two feet) before our brains grew large. Therefore, it was as if bipedalism were a natural instinct- we did it without thinking for a major purpose of life. One theory about why humans walk on two feet is that humans needed tools for hunting. It’s a lot easier to make and use tools if you walk on your feet and not all fours. However, this theory was disapproved since tools weren’t found that far back in time. Another theory is that we started walking on two feet for migration. We might need to be bipedal to see over the tall savanna grass, and since early hominids weren’t very tall this might have been essential for them to survive. Savanna grass can get up to 8 feet tall, and the Australopithecus Afarensis were only about 4 feet 11 inches tall. Therefore, if they were on all fours it would have been very hard for them to see approaching predators, and hunt preys. They could also move a lot faster upright than crawling, and they could even wade over streams and learn how to swim if they stood on their two feet. Another theory is that humans needed to be able to walk on two feet for food. Maybe they needed to pick fruit from trees. It is also a lot easier to hunt and carry food when walking upright, and not crawling. A last theory of why humans walk on two feet is that we have to reproduce, which is one of the main things in our fight to survive. We try to attract the opposite gender, to then have sex and reproduce to ensure the specie’s survival. Usually, it is the male that tries to attract the female. The male might need to find food to show off, and it’s a lot more efficient to find a lot of food if you are bigger and stand upright. When the kid then comes along, it is even more important for the male to be able to hunt and find food to bring up the family. This theory, however, was questioned since relies too much on the unknown. There are many theories about why we walk on two feet. Still the question remains unanswered, and may stay unanswered. However, the most important thing is that we did become bipedal and that we don't crawl around on all fours today.