The modern hypothesis of the aquatic ape theory (AAT) was originally suggested in 1942, by Max Westenhofer in The Road to Man (Der Eigenweg des Menschen). The writer Elaine Morgan developed and promoted it, publishing in 1972 her first book on the subject, The Descent of Woman, and later other books, including The Aquatic Ape (1982), The Scars of Evolution (1990), The Descent of the Child (1994), and The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis (1997).
The aquatic ape hypothesis puts forward several main arguments:
Nakedness: Humans are the only primate species in which, in most of the body, hair is so fine and sparse as to reveal the skin under it. Environments known to give rise to naked mammals are tropical (like elephants, which are themselves descended from aquatic ancestors, and some rhinoceros species), aquatic (whales, dolphins, walrus, dugongs, and manatees), semi-aquatic or littoral (hippopotamus), and subterranean (naked mole rat).
Bipedalism: There exist very few bipedal mammals, and humans are the only ones which adopt a full-time, fully-upright posture with a vertical vertebral column. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bears are able to walk on two legs when they have a particular reason. Although the posture improves the ability to carry objects and use tools while walking or running, bipedalism and upright posture are believed to come at a significant cost, from back and knee problems, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, hernias, and problems with childbirth. Aquatic ape theory argue proposes water supports the body.
Breathing: Most land mammals have no conscious control over their breathing. The voluntary control humans have over their respiratory system can be compared to that of (semi)aquatic mammals which inhale as much air as they need for a dive, then return to the surface for air.
Fat: Humans have ten times as many fat cells under the skin as would be expected in a non-aquatic animal the same size, and have many adipose cells. Aquatic mammals retain fat throughout the year, some terrestrial do, but in some seasons to hibernate. Human infants are especially fat compared with apes and most other fully terrestrial mammals.
Childbirth: Dramatic increase in cranium size is a prominent theme in human evolution, making childbirth difficult and dangerous. Water birthing is believed to facilitate childbirth and to reduce risks to mother and infant. Human infants naturally hold their breath and can swim from birth.
Nutrition: Human brain tissue requires comparatively large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are uncommon in the land food chain but prevalent in the marine food chain.
Tears and excessive sweating: Sweating and tears are prevalent in humans but not in other primates. They are considered further evidence to support the hypothesis, insofar as they are vectors for the removal of excess water and salts from the body as might result from the ingestion of saltwater (as in eating food from a salt marsh).
I don't know why but I love nocturnal landscapes. My heart enlarges whenever I see a nocturnal landscape in one clear night. If I travel by plane I always try to do it during the night to see the small lights from above. At night everything is clean, calm and beauty, even if it is
I had no idea about aquariums, but now I have a little one at home and it’s working!!!! I haven’t been traveling in my holidays, and that’s the reason why I have had enough time to spend with the aquarium, and I want to share my amateur knowledge with you: First of all you have to know if you want cold or hot water fish, and then buy the fish tank (ask the seller, and explain what kind of fish do you want). It’s worst to buy a small tank than a big one, I have one of 45 litters (it is enough) with filter and thermometer.
When you have the recipient you have to buy the sand (better sand about
This part is exciting but a little bored because you have to wash the sand with lots of water till it is clean. Then put the sand inside the fish tank (situated in the correct future place), put the filter and the thermometer, and finally, the decoration.
The water that the seller recommend us was “aigua de Ribes” of 5 litters. Put a bowl into the tank on the sand and fill in with the water (try to put the water in the bowl, if not, the sand will be removed). When you have the water at half level, plant the seaweeds where you want, and continue putting water till the mark of the filter, when you finish, take out the bowl. Your aquarium have to stay one week or more with the filter on and without fishes, to make the cycle of the nitrates and nitrites.
When the week passed, catch some aquarium’s water and let it to analyzing in the fish shop. If the water it is ok, buy the fishes!!!! (I recommend to buy few and many resistant fishes at first). To introduce the fishes into the aquarium, first put the plastic bag with the fishes inside the aquarium water during 5 minutes so that the fish are at the temperature of the water. Afterwards make holes with a needle in the plastic bag, that it is still under the water, because they keep on adapting themselves to the water of your fish tank, and finally go breaking the bag until they go out alone. The fishes eat ones a day.
We made it like this and they haven’t died yet!
