Early hominids may have been weed species.

Abstract in brief

• Early hominids might have originally been weed species similar to modern macaques and gorillas, with social structures that changed significantly as they evolved from a common ancestor in the late Miocene, especially after losing their arboreal canopy access due to bipedality.
• Despite their shift away from arboreal habitats, early hominids successfully invaded new environments, likely aided by traits like increased female survival, which may have been supported by social monogamy, rather than simply having fewer births.
• The success of early hominids is probably more related to reduced female mortality through social behaviors rather than changes in birth rates, which would have been harder to physiologically achieve.]