NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Humans are the most unique species among mammals. We are practically naked, but most representatives of the animal world are covered with fur.
Why do we need such smooth skin? British evolutionary biologist Mark Pagel from the University of Reading is trying to solve this mystery and understand what meaning is hidden behind the absence of a fluffy fur coat on our body.
The fur of many mammals is believed to serve multiple functions.
First of all, it helps them retain heat and regulate body temperature. The fur serves as a barrier against the cold at night and protection from the sun during the day. Effective fur is essential for survival in harsh environmental conditions.
In addition, the fur can function as waterproofing, camouflage, and enticing partners during the breeding season. For some species, coat color is also indicated, which plays a role in sexual selection.
Three mysterious hypotheses
But why did people, in the process of evolution, lose this protection and decoration? There are several hypotheses to explain this structure of civilization.
1. Thermoregulation hypothesis. One theory is that the thick layer of fur could be kept in overheated conditions on sunny days. To regulate temperature, early humans developed more sweat glands than their primates, and if they had found fur, the sweat would not have been able to evaporate effectively, which could have threatened their survival.
2. Aquatic monkey hypothesis. According to this theory, ancient people spent a lot of time in water and therefore gradually lost their hair, just as fur made them heavier when swimming. However, this hypothesis lacks conclusive evidence, and it does not consider why the man did not regain his fur after leaving the water.
3. Ectoparasite hypothesis. This theory comes from Mark Pagel himself, and it may be closer to solving the mystery. She argues that hairless skin is less attractive to and negotiate with ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks and lice. Research shows that less hair on the skin means less hiding space for parasites.
Thus, the lack of fur in humans may contribute to adaptation to life in harsh environments, leading to a greater ability to thermoregulate and reduced problems with ectoparasites. All three hypotheses provide an interesting perspective on human evolution and its unique anatomical features.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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