This paper begins by comparing anatomical and physiological features of humans and other groups of mammals (apes and arboreal mammals, open-country dwellers, fully aquatic mammals, and semi-aquatics), in order to establish the nature of the environment where Homo originated. It concludes that the evidence completely invalidates the savanna theory and strongly favours the semi-aquatic hypothesis.
The second part points out that nothing in the fossil record disproves this conclusion, and quotes paleo-environmental evidence concerning the milieu where the ancient hominids fossilised.
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