In 2007, Anchorage daily News reported a goofy looking moose tangled up in Christmas lights. A local biologist guessed that the animal had eaten too many fermented crab apples from a nearby tree and may have been drunk from the alcohol in the fruit. The idea of drunk animals is together absurd and amusing-it’s not surprising that Buzzwinkle the drunk moose and his friends made the headlines.

“There’s a lot of stories like that, and they’re really funny,” said Matthew Carrigan, a biologist at the College of Central Florida who studies the evolution of alcohol metabolism. “But I would almost say those are one-offs.”

[Image of Matthew Carrigan]

Matthew Carrigan is a biologist at the College of Central Florida who studies the evolution of alcohol metabolism.

Ethanol commonly occurs in nature, and a lot of animals in the wild, especially those whose diets consist of fruits and nectar, consume it at least occasionally.¹ Though, according to Carrigan, it’s disadvantageous-even hazardous-for animals to roam around while under the influence. Because of this very reason, animals likely evolved the ability to metabolize alcohol so they wouldn’t get intoxicated. “You wouldn’t want to be swinging around in the trees at night, surrounded by predators, when you’re drunk,” Carrigan said.

## Pentailed Tree Shrews Drink, But Don’t Get Drunk

According to Carrigan, one of the best documented examples of wild animals consuming alcohol is the story of the West Malaysian pentailed tree shrews. In a 2008 study in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, researchers observed tree shrews slurping on alcoholic palm nectar in the middle of the night. They estimated the animals’ alcohol intake“`html

Orrorin tugenensis: A Key Piece in the Puzzle of Human Evolution

Orrorin tugenensis, an extinct species of hominin, is gaining recognition as a potentially crucial link in understanding the evolution of bipedalism – the ability to walk upright on two legs – in early hominins. Discovered in 2000 in the Tugen Hills of Kenya, fossils of Orrorin tugenensis date back approximately 6 million years, making it one of the oldest known hominins. Its unique features challenge previous assumptions about the sequence of events leading to human walking.

Revelation and Fossil Evidence

The discovery of Orrorin tugenensis was led by Martin Pickford and Brigitte Senut. The initial finds included a femur (thigh bone), several arm bones, and fragments of the skull and jaw. Further excavations have yielded more fossils, providing a more complete, though still fragmentary, picture of this ancient hominin. The name “orrorin tugenensis” comes from the Tugen language, meaning “first upright man.”

Key Anatomical Features and Bipedalism

The most significant aspect of Orrorin tugenensis is the morphology of its femur. Analysis of the femur suggests that Orrorin was capable of bipedal locomotion, but in a manner different from modern humans. Specifically, the femur exhibits features indicating a more arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle combined with upright walking.

Femur Morphology and Implications

The femur’s head is small relative to its shaft, and the neck is short, features that suggest a different gait than that of Australopithecus or Homo. Researchers suggest Orrorin may have been a capable climber, using its arms for leverage while moving through trees, and also able to walk upright on the ground, though perhaps not as efficiently as later hominins. This challenges the earlier hypothesis that a fully developed, human-like walk preceded arboreal adaptations. A 2008 study published in Science detailed these femoral characteristics and thier implications for understanding early hominin bipedalism ([Pickford & Senut,2008](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18778418/)).

Other Notable Features

• Dental Morphology: The teeth of Orrorin tugenensis are relatively small with thick enamel, suggesting a diet that included hard foods.
• Arm Bones: The arm bones are robust, indicating strong climbing abilities.
• Fragmentary skull: The limited skull fragments suggest a relatively small brain size, consistent with other early hominins.

The Evolutionary Context

Orrorin tugenensis lived around the same time as Sahelanthropus tchadensis, another early hominin discovered in Chad. Both species are pushing back the timeline for the emergence of hominin traits, particularly bipedalism. The discovery of Orrorin suggests that bipedalism may have evolved in a more mosaic fashion, with different hominin lineages experimenting with different forms of upright locomotion. It’s unlikely that there was a single, linear progression from ape-like ancestors to modern humans.

Challenges and Ongoing Research

Despite the meaning of the finds, the fragmentary nature of the Orrorin tugenensis fossil record presents challenges. Researchers continue to analyze the existing fossils and search for new discoveries to gain a more complete understanding of this species. debate continues regarding the precise mode of locomotion and the phylogenetic relationships of Orrorin to other hominins. Further research, including more detailed biomechanical analyses of the femur and comparisons with other early hominin fossils, is crucial.

Key Takeaways

• Orrorin tugenensis is a 6-million-year-old hominin discovered in Kenya.
• Its femur suggests it was capable of bipedal walking, but likely combined with arboreal locomotion.
• The discovery challenges the conventional view of a linear progression towards human bipedalism.
• Orrorin lived alongside other early hominins like Sahelanthropus tchadensis, indicating a diverse early hominin landscape.

Future Directions

The study of Orrorin tugenensis continues to be a vital area of paleoanthropological research. Future discoveries and advanced analytical techniques will undoubtedly refine our understanding of this interesting species and its place in the story of human evolution. Uncovering