Why did Neanderthals have short legs?

Answer 1

Earlier studies suggested that the cold climate where Neanderthals lived encouraged them to be small and squat, with shorter legs than modern humans, their cousins. However, recent research suggests that short legs moved more efficiently over the hilly terrain where they lived. This adaption to their environment is also found in other species. Sheep and mountain goats have all got shorter legs than cows and Gazelles that live on flatter land, even in the same climate. Among closely related species, the mountain goats had shorter legs than the lowland goats! And the mountain gazelles were shorter than their cousins, the savannah gazelles!