Shortest cavemen had most axe appeal

Last updated at 10:37 13 March 2007


Short men were more attractive to women than their taller counterparts before they learned how to use tools as weapons, research shows.

Being short made modern man's predecessors more successful at fighting - with a lower centre of gravity and better balance - making them irresistible to women.

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For two million years those with the shortest legs were also more aggressive, because they were confident of winning fights rather than having a complex about their height.

Research on Australopiths by the University of Utah and published in Evolution, challenges the theory that their height made them more accomplished climbers in the African forests.

David Carrier, who led the study, said: "Australopiths maintained short legs for two million years because a squat physique and stance helped the males fight over access to females."

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