The development and significance of bipedalism in early hominids for human evolution Clearly bipedalism is important and has a significant role for human evolution; if it did not have such importance, modern humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) would not be bipeds. There are many vital stages of human evolution that lead us humans to be successful in adapting to their environment and, by extension, surviving; one of these vital evolutionary stages is bipedalism. What is bipedalism? This is the ability to move on two legs in a standing position instead of moving on all fours. Bipedalism played a very significant role in the development of early hominids in evolution. According to M. Friedman, "the development of bipedalism was the first significant adaptation that distinguished hominids from other apes." This quote shows that bipedalism was truly a revolutionary development and had a great influence on human evolution. Dictonary.com explains that a hominin is "any modern or extinct bipedal primate, including all species of the genus Homo and Australopithecus." The first bipedal hominid would have been Australopithecus anamensis. The Australopithecus anamensis tibia fossils that were found showed strong bipedalism, the tibia found had a right angle between the shaft and the proximal surface and dates back to 4.2-3.9 million years ago. Australopithecus aferensis is another species that displays bipedalism; they lived 4 to 2.8 million years ago and evolved from Australopithecus anamensis. Lucy, which appears to be one of the best-known fossils, is a member of the Australopithecus aferensis species. There is substantial information on the early bipedalism found in this species. According to elucy.org 'The Australopithecus afere... in the center of the card... appears larger to other species and probably intimidates them. Another advantage that bipedalism would have brought was thermoregulation (the ability to maintain body temperature in a certain environment), according to elucy.com "a taller upright posture in the hot savannah environment allowed more heat to escape from the sides of the body because Many more surface areas are exposed to wind and refreshing air. All the developments of bipedalism and the advantages that came with it and which allowed hominids to evolve into Homo sapiens sapiens are present today. Without bipedalism we would not be able to walk upright, to use the hands we use for a large number of things or to keep our body at the right temperature in difficult conditions has had a significant role to play in the development of human evolution and, by extension, has given us greater chance of survival.