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Evolution of human growth spurts

S R Leigh1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana, 61801, USA.

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|December 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Human growth spurts are not unique among primates, with similar patterns observed in both males and females across various anthropoid species. However, humans uniquely exhibit these growth spurts at significantly later ages.

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Area of Science:

  • Primate evolutionary biology
  • Human growth and development
  • Comparative anatomy

Background:

  • Subadult growth spurts are a significant phase in primate development.
  • Previous research has explored growth patterns, but comparative analyses across a broad range of anthropoid primates, including humans, are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare subadult growth spurts in a large sample of anthropoid primates, including humans.
  • To determine if human growth spurt patterns are exceptional compared to other anthropoids.
  • To explore the relationship between growth spurt characteristics and species size, sex, and life history traits.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of body mass growth curves in a diverse sample of anthropoid primates.
  • Application of allometric analyses to study growth spurts in relation to species size.
  • Comparative analysis of growth spurt timing and scaling patterns between sexes.

Main Results:

  • Subadult growth spurts are common in both New World and Old World anthropoid primates, occurring more frequently in males than females.
  • Species size is a significant correlate of growth spurts; smaller species tend not to exhibit them.
  • While velocity and size scaling patterns are similar between sexes, growth spurt timing differs, potentially reflecting life history variations.
  • Humans do not substantially deviate from general anthropoid growth spurt patterns in relative terms.

Conclusions:

  • Human subadult growth spurts are comparable to those of other anthropoid primates in many relative aspects.
  • The primary distinguishing feature of human growth spurts is their significant delay in absolute age of initiation.
  • This delayed initiation of human growth spurts may hold significant evolutionary implications.

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