Table 1.
Brain size, limb length and semicircular canal radii in hominids. Relative hindlimb lengths (RHLs) from Pontzer [83]. EQ from Lieberman [9] calculated as EQ = brain mass/0.59 × body mass0.76 following Martin [84] (EQ for Ardipithecus ramidus calculated from data of Suwa et al. [85], EQ for P. paniscus from species means of Isler et al. [86]). Anterior and posterior semicircular canal radii (ASC and PSC, respectively) from Spoor et al. [82] (ASC and PSC for H. neanderthalensis from Spoor et al. [88]). Body masses for extinct taxa from Lieberman [9] and for extant taxa from Spoor et al. [87].
| species | RHL | EQ | ASC (mm) | PSC (mm) | body mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardipithecus ramidus | 0.16 | 1.57 | — | — | — |
| Australopithecus afarensis | 0.19 | 2.49 | — | — | — |
| Australopithecus africanus | 0.19 | 2.78 | 2.40 | 2.60 | 34.00 |
| Australopithecus robustus | — | 3.05 | 2.60 | 2.70 | 36.00 |
| Homo habilis | 0.20 | 3.30 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 39.00 |
| Homo erectus | 0.22 | 3.69 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 61.00 |
| Homo neanderthalensis | 0.21 | 4.94 | 3.02 | 2.88 | 72.00 |
| Homo heidelburgensis | 0.23 | 4.24 | — | — | — |
| Homo floresiensis | 0.18 | 2.95 | — | — | — |
| Homo sapiens | 0.23 | 5.12 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 58.31 |
| Pongo pygmaeus | 0.15 | 1.56 | 2.70 | 2.50 | 56.95 |
| Pan paniscus | 0.17 | 1.87 | 2.60 | 2.50 | 39.10 |
| Pan troglodytes | 0.16 | 2.07 | 2.70 | 2.80 | 44.97 |
| Gorilla gorilla | 0.14 | 1.02 | 2.90 | 3.00 | 120.95 |