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Published
written by Sally Baldwin
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Aquatic Apes – Diving And The Human Body

Aquatic Apes – Diving And The Human Body

Diving for pleasure is not something that many land mammals do. A dog will happily splash about after a stick in a river. Elephants enjoy wading in watering holes. Even tigers will swim after prey if necessary. However, only humans appear to enjoy completely submerging ourselves and visiting the underwater world. Partly this is because of the innate curiosity which has helped us to reach the position we are in today. Partly this is because we have an appreciation of beauty, a sense of adventure, and a good degree of leisure time lacked by our fellow mammals. But it’s also because we are curiously well adapted – for a land mammal – for submarine excursions. Of course, we’re not so well adapted that we can spend extended periods of time underwater without assistance – free divers can wreak remarkable feats, but ultimately those who wish to be more comfortable while diving will need a degree of equipment and instruction to aid them on their way. Nonetheless, compared to our terrestrial mammalian compatriots, we’re unusually adept in the water…

The Aquatic Ape Theory

Most mammals which live a predominantly non-aquatic life are ill-suited to diving. Fur, unless especially adapted (like that of an otter or a beaver), weighs down swimming animals and (along with a lack of subcutaneous fat – something which many Western humans all too obviously do not lack!) makes them vulnerable to chilly winds when they emerge. Land-mammal eyes are unable to discern much beneath the water, and most mammals resolutely try to keep their noses and mouths above the surface to prevent themselves from getting watery lungs. Even our closest ape relatives try to avoid swimming if at all possible. Humans, however, are a different story. Although we’re far from as well adapted to the water as our mammalian cousins of the waters (whales, seals, otters and so forth), we don’t do too badly for landlubbers. While one would be foolish to plunge into the water without a keen regard for one’s health, safety, and potential survival, the human body naturally brings into play several underwater survival techniques which many other mammals lack. This has led some anthropologists to believe in the ‘Aquatic Ape Theory’. This theory, first put forward in 1960 by Sir Alister Hardy, a British biologist, proposes that humans evolved as wading animals – apes which descended from the trees and savannahs to live off the rich pickings to be had in swamps, creeks, and tidal waters. Although the theory is not widely accepted in anthropological circles, it does put forth some enticing points regarding human aquatic adaptations.

Bipedalism

Humans are noticeably different from our great ape cousins. Indeed, compared to them we seem rather clumsy and pathetic. Our rigidly upright stance, our inability to walk on all fours, our comparatively puny arms and thickly muscled legs, our leg-borne height – all of these set us apart. Furthermore, we lack fur. That which we do manage to grow is principally on top of our head and very long. In short, we’re an odd example of an ape. A watery evolution, however, may provide some answers. While our primate cousins certainly have the edge over us on land, in the water we excel. Humans are capable of wading long distances and with relative ease, while other primates would suffer water-resistance from their fur, struggle to keep their heads above water, and find their legs unable to push through the waters for long. The well-developed, furless thighs, height, and upright bipedal stance of humans allows us to outstrip our fellow apes in a wading situation. Human bipedalism is an evolutionary adaptation which has long bewildered anthropologists. There are many theories surrounding it, of which the Aquatic Ape Theory is a reasonably well respected one. Anthropologists which dismiss other aspects of the theory are prepared to accept that a degree of time spent wading is as good an explanation as any for our distinctive upright two-legged posture. Some even go so far as to suggest that our hair is the way it is to allow our children to sit on our shoulders and cling to long strands of hair as we took to the waters.

Submarine Heads

It’s not just our bodies which are curiously well-adapted for the watery life, however. It seems that at some point in our history, it was an evolutionary advantage for us to be able to plunge our heads under the water. One such adaptation is the ‘diving reflex’. Humans are aided by our own biology when it comes to holding our breaths underwater. Unlike most other land mammals, when we go underwater our heart-rates slow and our airways close. The closing of the airways is due to our uniquely descended larynx, which slams with a glottal snap when our faces touch water. The slowing of the heart-rate preserves oxygen by ensuring that it’s not being farmed out to the organs too quickly. Some scientists claim that our enlarged sinuses give us added buoyancy in an underwater situation, and many have noted that human eyes are better adapted for seeing underwater than those of many other land mammals (although we need a diving mask to see properly!). Perhaps the greatest piece of evidence for a marine past, however, comes with our brains. The greatest brains in the animal kingdom belong to marine mammals, like whales and dolphins. It is proposed that their great cognitive development is due to the brain-boosting effects of a fish-rich diet. Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish have been proven to be good for the brain even on a short-term level. Over an extended evolutionary timescale, it is extremely likely that regular consumption of fish and other seafood would lead to the overall cognitive advance of the species. It goes without saying that the human brain is an incredibly well-advanced organ – and many structures within it seem designed to take advantage of fish oil compounds. Next time you’re diving, therefore, pause a moment to consider all the ways in which your body gives you a marine advantage – it may once have been useful for more than just recreation!

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  • tn

    Timur K 4/9/2015 4:39:48 PM Great article Sally! Do you mind if I feature this on diveadvisor.com/sub2o?
    Reply

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