A naked ape would have fewer parasites.

Journal article

Unusually among the mammals, humans lack an outer layer of protective fur or hair. We propose the hypothesis that humans evolved hairlessness to reduce parasite loads, especially ectoparasites that may carry disease. We suggest that hairlessness is maintained by these naturally selected benefits and by sexual selection operating on both sexes. Hairlessness is made possible in humans owing to their unique abilities to regulate their environment via fire, shelter and clothing. Clothes and shelt...

Expand abstract

Authors: Pagel, M; Bodmer, W

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society
• Volume: 270 Suppl 1
• Issue: Suppl_1
• Pages: S117-S119
• Publication date: 2003-08-01
• DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2003.0041
• EISSN: 1471-2954
• ISSN: 0962-8452
• Language: English
• Keywords: Species Specificity; Adaptation, Physiological; Environment; Models, Biological; Clothing; Hominidae; Hair; Animals; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Humans; Mammals