Comments on: The semi-naked ape, or why peach fuzz makes it harder for parasites

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:46:33 +0000

“He also suggested that hairlessness might have made our ancestors more sexually attractive to each other.” I suggest this tells us more about Darwin than anything else.

By: vince

vince — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:39:54 +0000

so much for the aquatic ape hypothesis

By: Sheila Chambers

Sheila Chambers — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:36:12 +0000

If loss of hair helped us to stay cool on the hot savanna, why do other animals that also live out on that hot savanna have very hairy bodies?

Baboons, another primate are very hairy and they live right out in the savanna.

Only humans have lost most of their course hair except for our heads, arm pits and groin.

Yeah, I have seen men as hairy as apes and a bald head.
Explain that!

By: Lulu

Lulu — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:29:43 +0000

I’m surprised this is a topic of research, and/or it’s taken this long to “figure out” scientifically. Anyone who exercises where ticks roam know they’re easier to feel on hairy legs than shaved ones. I am so sensitive I can be woken-up by a small spider walking on my arm, even thru sleeves.

There is one bug I would like to have researched: the cone-nose kissing bug of Arizona, or Triatoma rubida. I can watch one walk on my arm and still not feel it. How does it do it?

By: Pete Jago

Pete Jago — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:57:11 +0000

This is a neat study. The only thing I would question is possible reduced sensitivity of shaved areas contributing to reduced detection of parasites.

By: Malc

Malc — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:29:14 +0000

I think the doi link doesn’t work…. or is it just me?

By: rebecca

rebecca — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:47:06 +0000

Humanity in general seems to be a result of a series of “half-hearted evolutionary stabs”. Now I have one more thing to be thankful about – body hair. Thanks for the fun read!