Human energy expenditure and thermoregulation during persistence hunting in the Namib

In this study, we present the first physiological measurements collected during persistence hunting (a hunting technique in which prey is pursued until exhaustion). This hunting strategy was likely already used by Homo erectus (~2 Mya) and was one of the selection mechanisms leading to physiological and anatomical adaptation, creating the endurance phenotype characteristic of anatomically modern humans.

The research took place in the Namib Desert in collaboration with ultramarathon runner Robi Dattatreya. Out of six hunting attempts, two were successful. The measurements showed that persistence hunting is energetically efficient and can be carried out entirely by walking, without the need for endurance running.

This suggests that persistence hunting could have been used even by australopithecines, whose anatomy did not allow for endurance running.