Why did we lose hair?

Humans are apes. As hard as it might be to associate yourself with a chimp swinging from a tree, it’s just a matter of fact. While we admittedly don’t look a lot like Bigfoot or the apes in Tarzan, we still share some characteristics with primates. So, why are they so hairy and furry and we are not?

Well, it has to do with why we walk on two legs. Confusing? Me too. Humans (and apes in general) evolved in Africa. Back 7 million years ago, what is now Ethiopia was a jungle, ideal for chimp-like primates. But then, the Ice Age hit (don’t ask me why) and the Earth began to dry up. Around 3 mya, Africa was near unrecognizable. Huge swaths of grasslands and deserts covered the Dark Continent.

Our fur and hair evolved for shady, cool areas and definitely not sweltering savannas. Therefore, we had to lose all of that hair. (Fun fact: apes’ skin is white. Humans darkened after the loss of hair and lightened again in Europe) Well, now you have your answer. We lost hair ’cause we just didn’t want to burn up.