Wrestlers generally aren’t lanky, because low hips and a low center of gravity are good for defending against takedowns.
For the same reason, our pre-human ancestors had short legs. Human Ancestors had Short Legs for Combat:
For the aborigines and each primate species, Carrier used the scientific literature to obtain typical hindlimb lengths and data on two physical features that previously have been shown to correlate with male-male competition and aggressiveness in primates:
- The weight difference between males and females in a species. Earlier studies found males fight more in species with larger male-female body size ratios.
- The male-female difference in the length of canine teeth, which are next to the incisors and are used for biting during fights.
Carrier used male-female body size ratios and canine tooth size ratios as numerical indicators for aggressiveness because field studies of primates have used varying criteria to rate aggression. He says it would be like having a different set of judges for each competitor in subjective Olympic events like diving or ice dancing.
The study found that hindlimb length correlated inversely with both indicators of aggressiveness: Primate species with greater male-female differences in body weight and length of the canine teeth had shorter legs, and thus display more male-male combat.