Last Common Ancestor of Humans and Chimpanzees May Have Been a Skilled Tree Climber

Research indicates that the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees, despite having a variety of foot structures, was likely capable of vertical climbing. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, observes wild sooty mangabey monkeys, which have feet without the ankle flexibility of chimpanzees, but can still perform vertical climbs using their midfoot.

This challenges the notion that a more ape-like foot is necessary for such an ability. The findings suggest that the locomotion and foot morphology of the human-chimpanzee last common ancestor remain unclear and cannot be definitively determined based on current fossil evidence.