Aquatic ape theory book

Jun 04, 2012 humans are among some of the strangest land mammals. There are two theories involving an aquatic aspect to human evolution the original aquatic ape theory aat and verhaegens coastal dispersal theory cdt. This book is an update to her 1960s book the aquatic ape theory which is now sorely outofdate, so if youre going to read it, read the 1990s version called aquatic ape hypothesis. Apr 01, 2020 the aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. The aquatic ape theory suggests that when our ancestors moved onto the savanna they were already different from apes. The aquatic ape hypothesis by elaine morgan goodreads. Fossil evidence is scarce and this has been the main reason why critics have been reluctant to consider the theory. This book was far more scholarly and scientific, with references and appendises, and she hoped this time, that the scientific community might begin to take her seriously. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic. In the decades since, morgans aquatic ape hypothesis has gained widespread support. Most credible theory of human evolution new ed by morgan, elaine isbn. The theory of an aquatic phase in human prehistory was conceived by sir alister hardy in 1930, when he was a young professor of marine biology at oxford. I first learned of elaine morgan and the aquatic ape theory from a botanist. Apr 23, 2020 zoologist desmond john morris used hardys aquatic ape hypothesis to explain why we are so nimble in the water today, and why our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees, are so helpless and quickly drown.

Elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. May, 20 the aquatic ape theory explained the evolution of our ancestors from a wet environment. The mythical mermaid is clearly an aquatic animal and so is a human being if we are to believe the aquatic ape theory. Despite this research is seen as pseudo science, morgan continued writing on the subject in the aquatic ape, the scars of evolution, and the aquatic ape hypothesis. Aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution.

Elaine morgans 1997 aquatic ape book her sixth is supposedly her best researched according to her so ive read it and here jotted down some notes of things that i could immediately see were errors, problems, or logical fallacies. Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. A critique of the aquatic ape theory, with examples refuting the basic premises of. Jan 03, 2011 elaine morgan 192020 was the author of the 1972 book the descent of woman, which suggested that human evolution had an aquatic origin. The traditional savannah ape theory that early hominid apes evolved on the grass plains of east africa 6 7 million years ago from our quadruped ape ancestors. The aquatic ape hypothesis is the idea that our ancestors went through an aquatic mammal evolutionary stage. Apr 16, 2012 the aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits.

Mar 17, 2017 despite this research is seen as pseudo science, morgan continued writing on the subject in the aquatic ape, the scars of evolution, and the aquatic ape hypothesis. May 07, 20 aquatic apes are the stuff of creationism, not evolution people think they know about evolution, but the aquatic ape theory isnt science. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory. Our dolphin ancestors book by frank joseph official. The aquatic ape theory the aquatic ape theory is mostly the work of just two people 1 i have nothing new to add, except for a possible connection with global cataclysms consensus amongst scientists known as the savannah theory has it that the following sequence occurred. A new aquatic ape theory science smithsonian magazine. The aquatic ape theory suggest that the main reason why we differ from gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos which all share a common ancestor with us is that humans adapted to live in aquatic environments, while apes did not. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat and more recently the waterside model, is the idea that certain ancestors of modern humans were more aquatic than other great apes and even many modern humans, and, as such, were habitual waders, swimmers and divers. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes. What do those differences tell us about human evolution.

The ideas principal proponent since hardy has been british screenwriter elaine morgan, who has written at least six books promoting the aquatic. Unfortunately, the aquatic ape turns out to be exceedingly flammable for a waterdweller, and even the slightest criticism burns it beyond hope of recovery. The aquatic ape theory is a radical shift away from the savannah theory, in which homo sapiens are supposed to have descended from hairy apes, dropping down from the trees and taking to two legs on the hunt for prey across the plains of africa. The aquatic ape theory 1985 which was prefaced by hardy himself. Hear her spirited defense of the idea and her theory on why science doesnt take it seriously.

In the aquatic ape, elaine morgan tries to explain the theory that humans evolved to be all throughout history, scientist have tried to find out how we evolved, and if we truly came from monkeys. The book became a best seller on the strength of its readable style and political message, but received a frosty reception from the scientific world. The aquatic ape theory states that approximately 67 million years ago, our ape ancestors were trapped in a semiaquatic environment. I can see two possible future scenarios for the aquatic ape theory. The aquatic ape theory there is a popular fringe theory about human evolution that claims we went through an aquatic phase. We are told by scientists that we evolved from apes and that we share about 98% of our genes with the chimpanzee and bonobo, but the problem is that we dont look like any other ape.

Elaine morgan and the aquatic ape erika lorraine milam. In the first full discussion of a theory propounded by the late sir alister hardy, elaine morgan points to the dramatic similarities between ourselves and the aquatic mammals whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters and argues that the only theory of evolution which explains these satisfactorily is that we, alone among the primates, have returned to life on land after a period of adaptation to an aquatic environment. The aquatic ape theory postulates that humans evolved through an aquatic stage during which time they lived largely in water. The aquatic ape theory is something i first heard about from one of my favourite blogs, mermaids are real, which is actually a published book as well. Nov 01, 1982 the aquatic ape hypothesis is the idea that our ancestors went through an aquatic mammal evolutionary stage. Humans are among some of the strangest land mammals. Elaine morgan gives a revolutionary hypothesis that explains our anatomic anomalieswhy we walk on. Seems to be mostly shunned by modern science, but the. Books and publications semiaquatic human ancestors. It is a great shame the bbc recently indulged this implausible theory as it distracts from the emerging story of human evolution that. Elaine morgan was a tenacious proponent of a theory that is not widely accepted. The writer elaine morgan championed it in her book the aquatic ape, and developed the hypothesis further.

This idea was attacked at first by scientists, but the book became an international bestseller. So the aquatic ape theory is actually pretty interesting. One quick search on amazon got me directed to this dealer and within about 3 days i. The aquatic ape theory on the other hand picks out one of all these environments and says. Also in the theory that humans did come from monkeys, scientists have tried to find the missing link in are so called evolution. Sep 16, 2016 in that test, the aquatic ape has failed again and again. This is a blog about sea nomads, maritime lifestyles and human evolutionary science. The disturbing theory regarding the existence of mermaids.

Key proponents of aat aquatic ape theory hypothesis. I had just watched the animal planet mockumentary on tv and was left with at least a hundred questions as to the basis of the aquatic ape theory. The bizarre hypothesis of the aquatic ape mysterious universe. Thought provoking book, very well presented theory of a semiaquatic existence in our distant past. A brief critique of morgans 1997 book, the aquatic ape hypothesis elaine morgans 1997 aquatic ape book her sixth is supposedly her best researched according to her so ive read it and here jotted down some notes of things that i could immediately see were errors, problems, or logical fallacies. The aquatic ape theory graham hancock official website. Its intent is to explain the reason humans are so different from the other great apes.

Humans differ from apes in a surprising number of ways. Frank joseph has produced a masterful treatment of this ancient family bond between dolphin and human that will intrigue, provoke, and satisfy the most exacting critic of the challenging aquatic ape theory that links our species as one. The features distinguishing them are far more varied than the features dividing other pairs of species which are so closely genetically related. For starters we can hold our breath underwater longer than any other creature and babies instinctively hold their breath under water. The latter states that when our ancestors spread around the world over the last couple o. In the book, the aquatic ape by elaine morgan, the author tries to explain a theory of the evolution of man, to the reader. In a nutshell, its a book written for the nonacademic masses, so dont expect it. The violence that is contained is no stronger that what would be found in the reading of a history book. The aquatic ape theory, now largely dismissed, tries to explain the origins of many of humankinds unique traits. She talks about aquatic ape theory and receives a standing ovation for her speech. Aah aat alister hardy aquatic ape theory badjao badjao association of matina aplaya badjao conference bajau laut bajau laut conference bajo broken eardrums coral triangle davao derawan islands dha docosahexaenoic acid donald johanson dynamite fishing elaine morgan erik abrahamsson erika schagatay fish bombing grouper harry arlo nimmo hawksbill. I am interested in indigenous cultures, maritime lifestyles and evolutionary science. Sorry david attenborough, we didnt evolve from aquatic apes heres why. The aquatic ape theory has many valid points and the fact it isnt taken seriously by the paleontologists isnt surprising since they dont seem to be motivated to find any alternate answers.

This theory had first been proposed by an english marine biologist named alister hardy if i remember correctly and was held to explain a host of differences between homo sapiens. As summarized beautifully by elaine morgan, a groundbreaking theory regarding the evolution of humans originally proposed by zoologistmarine biologist alistair hardy in. A few years ago, elaine morgan published a book called the aquatic ape that publicized a theory that humans, at some time in their evolution, had partially adapted to a marine environment. In the aquatic ape, elaine morgan tries to explain the theory that humans evolved to be what we are today, by having to move into the ocean. She would write about the theory in her book the descent of women, which would go on to become an international bestseller and really increase the prominence of the aquatic ape hypothesis, and she would go on to pen other books on the matter such as the aquatic ape 1982, the scars of evolution 1990, the descent of the child 1994 and the. The supporting evidence that tries to prove the theory true lies in the existence of hominid fossils in coast of east and south africa. Seems to be mostly shunned by modern science, but the theory itself is undeniable in its simplistic and relevant explanations for otherwise difficult to explain human peculiarities.

This is because the evidence is stacking up more and more towards the aquatic ape theory and against the savannah theory. In 1967, the hypothesis was mentioned in the naked ape, a popular book by the zoologist desmond morris, who reduced hardys phrase more aquatic apelike ancestors to the bare aquatic ape, commenting that despite its most appealing indirect evidence, the aquatic theory lacks solid support. The aquatic ape theory gives us fresh perspective and new possibilities to some of the biggest mysteries about our origins. Promotes a variation on the aquatic ape theory that suggests humans evolved from two hominids that were adapted to a waterside habitat. African origins theory is fairly well accepted among anthropologists and archaeologists, as well as most related scientific disciplines, but there are, as with natural selection, some competing ideas. Like modern whales that evolved from land mammals long ago, is it possible that a species of ape, descended from the same ancestors as we humans, may have evolved a flipper tail while retaining a humanlike upper body. Why anthropologists dont accept the aquatic ape theory 25 jan 2005 this is now an old post from 2005 see updates below one of the most common arguments about human evolution on the internet is whether hominids ever went through an aquatic phase in their evolution. A brief critique of morgans 1997 book,the aquatic ape hypothesis. My book arrived both sooner and in better condition that i expected. Brad and sherry steiger, authors of real visitors, voices from beyond, and parallel dimensions. Popularized in the 1970s and 1980s by writer elaine morgan, the theory suggests that early hominids lived in water at least part of the time. The aquatic ape hypothesis lays out the idea that humans evolved from primate ancestors who dwelt in watery habitats.

The scars of evolution is a discussion of a theory of human origins which holds that h. It suggests that the significant loss of body hair, bipedalism, and other characteristics evolved some time earlier in an aquatic or semiaquatic environment, when the human and ape lines first diverged. One theory, or hypothesis as the case may be, that tenaciously attacks the african origin theory is the aquatic ape theory. The aquatic ape theory suggests that at some point in the evolutionary chain for humanity, there was a period of time when there was an aquatic or a semiaquatic stage. Contrary to its cryptozoological title, its actually more about real history than it sounds, but thats a story for another day. A brief critique of morgans 1997 book,the aquatic ape hypothesis elaine morgans 1997 aquatic ape book her sixth is supposedly her best researched according to her so ive read it and here jotted down some notes of things that i could immediately see were errors, problems, or logical fallacies. He waited for thirty years before publishing an account of it, having a shrewd idea how it would be received and how it might damage his career. The argument for the aquatic ape theory was based mainly on facts of comparative anatomy. Apr 11, 2020 aquatic ape theory does present a compelling explanation for how a fully aquatic humanlike creature may have evolved.

He is a much more learned and erudite writer than i, and you will get a much greater depth of information from his post than from my brief outline. My name is erik abrahamsson a swedish anthropologist and photographer. The aquatic ape hypothesis elaine morgan why do humans differ from other primates. The savanna theory explained that our ancestors moved into a savanna environment on walked on two legs. Chapter four the aquatic ape theory mermaids are real. He had seen a television special on the theory and briefly followed up with a search of the scientific literature, but. One theory, or hypothesis as the case may be, that tenaciously attacks. Thought provoking book, very well presented theory of a semi aquatic existence in our distant past. Medical doctor were still bleeding people 100 years ago.

Some impressive evidence has been marshaled in support of this theory, which needs to be addressed. Cradle snatchers cause menopause, says biologist science. The aquatic ape hypothesis aah, also referred to as aquatic ape theory aat is the idea that. If mermaids are really out there, and aquatic ape theory really does explain their evolution, they probably dont look much like pretty, young girls.

This book is acceptable for the younger readers for it does not contain any offensive or gratuitous sex or offensive language. The theory was first discussed in the 1940s but it has many difficulties. An examination of the evolution of mankind which presents the theory that at some time between 6 and 9 million years ago the ancestors of human beings returned to a marine existence, thus accounting for homo sapiens major differences from the apes. The bizarre hypothesis of the aquatic ape mysterious.

Those of you who read my post, bipedal the aquatic ape theory, might be interested to learn of this guest blog on scienceblogs by marc verhaegen. May 08, 2018 it is the aquatic ape theory, an idea first widely publicized by marine biologist alister hardy in the 1930s. Through the process of convergent evolution, an aquatic environment offers an alternative hypothesis for certain features that humans have compared to other primates. While this aquatic ape hypothesis is pretty controversial and probably not true in any strong form, morgan argues it well and does provide a. It is unlikely that an ancestor fossil will ever be found that conclusively identifies an aquatic lifestyle because the skeleton would not necessarily reflect the aquatic adaptations. Elaine morgan, who has died aged 92, was a delightfully controversial advocate of the aquatic ape theory of human evolution. It is the aquatic ape theory, an idea first widely publicized by marine biologist alister hardy in the 1930s. My personal favorite part of the chapter were the last 2 pages with all the questions and the conclusion to the book. The aquatic ape theory often referred to as the aat or aah ill generally refer to it as the aath on this site says humans went through an aquatic or semiaquatic stage in our evolution and that this accounts for many features seen in human anatomy and physiology. So much for hardys original mild, modest, irrefutable version of the theory. Jun, 20 cradle snatchers cause menopause, says biologist this article is more than 6 years old prof rama singh warns that michael douglas and rod stewart wannabes have stacked the darwinian deck of.