The Evolution of Man

[Pckts]

(11-08-2016, 02:08 AM)brotherbear Wrote:

(11-08-2016, 12:57 AM)Pckts Wrote:

(11-08-2016, 12:34 AM)brotherbear Wrote: Lacking size or weapons, this early human species most likely used brains, agility, and social skills to escape from predators, the anthropologist says. 
 
Sounds good. Now, explain this; a troop of Australopithicus, lets say a group of thirty individuals ( a rather large group ), six dominant males, eight young-adult females, eight older individuals of both sexes, and eight juveniles. They are suddenly confronted by a pride of lions, sixteen lionesses, a coalition of four big males, and a host of cubs. 
Exactly how do these 'early human ancestors' use their brains and social skills to outwit the lions? 

How do primates avoid predation now?

I would assume that they would have look outs, alarm calls, escape routes and safe zones (areas not easy for predators to follow) and all would contribute to their safety, but that certainly doesn't mean that they wouldn't fall victim from time to time. I don't think anyone is disagreeing with that.

The only large primates living in a similar environment today are baboons. Sometimes, the mature males must face-off against predators. If not a bad smell, then there is something we are not looking at. Fossil bones give us a great deal of information. They tell us that Australopithicus was neither built for fighting nor a quick escape. They tell us what he couldn't do, but not what he could do. Bones don't lie, but neither do they give us a complete book of information.

I'm not sure where you get that they "tell us they aren't built for quick escape?"

Summary:Australopithecus afarensis was an upright walking species, but the question of whether it also spent much of its time in trees has been the subject of much debate. For the first time, scientists have thoroughly examined the two complete shoulder blades of the fossil "Selam." Analyses of these rare bones showed them to be quite apelike, suggesting that this species was adapted to climbing trees in addition to walking bipedally when on the ground.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20...150353.htm

Early Human 'Lucy' Swung from the Trees
http://www.livescience.com/24297-early-h...trees.html

Chimps, Gorillas, Baboon, Gibbons all live in similar environments and africa isn't just teaming with predators at every stop, you have to travel far and search to find them, herbivores will always outnumber predators. Australopithecus wasn't some clumsy creature with no agility, it survived because it adapted to do so. Skunks spray odor, Puffer fish expand, Porcupines have quills, bovine have horns, toads release poison and so on. These defense mechanisms may work some times but they don't work all the time, in fact, many predators become specialized hunters of said species. So even if your hypothesis on "body odor" were to be true, it wouldn't change the fact that they would still need more than that to survive. And I see no theories that point in that direction any way, so I'm not sure why that is your theory? Reply