Competing models of hominin body size evolution

Gardner, J. D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5790-632X, Püschel, T. A., White, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5944-8270, Sakamoto, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6447-406X and Venditti, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6776-2355 (2026) Competing models of hominin body size evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 123 (27). e2521732123. ISSN 1091-6490 doi: 10.1073/pnas.2521732123

Abstract/Summary

The evolutionary trajectory of hominin body size remains contested, with prior studies suggesting a gradual increase or lineage-specific shifts. Here, we apply Bayesian phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models to a dataset of 386 specimens across 21 taxa and find strong evidence for a marked body mass increase in non-habilis or later-occurring Homo, with moderate support for a general increase over time. Contrary to some existing hypotheses, we find less support for a distinct size increase across all Homo. By accounting for phylogenetic nonindependence, intraspecific variation, and multiple sources of uncertainty, our analysis examines competing views in a single framework, supporting a more complex explanation for hominin body size evolution and clarifying key transitions in Homo.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/130987
Identification Number/DOI	10.1073/pnas.2521732123
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Publisher	National Academy of Sciences
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item