h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why do we lack hair in all the places apes have it, and yet have developed some 'special' hair of our own? I speak particularly of spiky facial hair, not found in other apes (as far as I can tell - I don't know any other simians well). What of pubic hair, do apes have it? I am quite sure I don't know of the ins and outs and curls of this matter, fortunately.

What purpose does a bushy beard serve that we might have evolved it? And why are some men bestial in their hair growth, like a llama, while others are as naked as a sausage? These questions clearly require answers.

You have raised some rather good and hair raising issues here with this post

Unfortunately, I am not about to provide you with direct answers here

But, wait on: I will point you to a theory though, and to a couple of somewheres, but which are not internet locations.

The Theory: Men have long pondered this and other things that are related to this hair or lack of hair issue with regards to humans. And it is men as in males who have the prevailing theory that we left the trees as apes stood up and marched upright onto the grassland savanahs and became hunter gatherers and toolmakers extraordinaire.

We are related to apes yet are effectively naked. We stand and move on our hind limbs and can move rapidly this way. Apes can stand up and can move on two, but move much faster on all fours than we do. We have nostrils opening straight down when we are standing fully erect and breathe easiest in this posture. Fur coats trap a layer of warm air next to the skin. Humans don't have this. Instead we have a good layer of subcutaneous fat to insulate our bodies. Apes don't -it is real thin. We can comfortably close our thumbs onto the tips of each of the other 4 digits of each hand. Apes barely manage this. We have webbing -fold of skin between fingers and between toes. Not much but enough to make us the good swimmers. Apes aren't and don't have the webbing. They also lack tear ducts that can secrete copious flow of liquid that is also salty. We live on land and are alone among apes for hairlessness. We are mammals in common with apes.

Now look at other mammals in the light of our differences with apes. The biggest difference is hairlessness. Now the other hairless mammals are elephants, pigs, hippos, sealions, dugongs, manatees, dolphins, and whales. The first 3 are land mammals, the last 4 were once land mammals which have returned to the sea. The sealions still need dry land for mating and birth. A theory that explains these points and others is that at some point our ape ancestors had an aquatic stage.

It was an academic man Sir Alister Hardy who first casually suggested the theory. But it was a woman and a mere author at that who published a fuller version of this theory in 2 compelling books. She is Elaine Morgan.

1. "The Descent Of Woman" 1972 Souvenir Press ISBN 0-285-62700-7
2. "The Aquatic Ape" 1982 Souvenir Press ISBN 0-285-62930-1

Try and read the earlier book first, I thoroughly recommend them.

Ciao Meaow!!

I second. Researchers have gone so far as to say that is why we have a "missing link" between the "Old World" apes (Gorillas, Chimps) and ourselves. An aquatic species would tend to die around the water, making the chances much slimmer that some unlucky fellows would be fossilized.

The few shows I've seen about it state that is was the introduction of fish and shellfish into our ancestor's diet that gave it the needed materials to develop higher thought.

Have you ever wondered why all human settlements are build next to water, and how on earth we ever learned how to eat something as ugly as a lobster?

See the Aquatic Ape theory leaflet:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5168/aat_leaflet.html

Thankyou for the comments in the post above and especially for finding the link to the Aquatic Ape Theory. I was able to then learn that Elaine Morgan had produced 2 further books on the subject. And that because of you and this facility we enjoy on h2g2... G-r-r-reat!!

Twenty years on I don't think the aquatic ape theory holds water.

...

I'll get my coat.