As Homo erectus roamed the expansive savannas, a significant evolutionary shift occurred in human ancestors: the reduction of body hair. This adaptation likely enhanced sweat-based cooling systems, crucial for surviving and thriving under the scorching sun during long hunts and foraging activities. While this change marked a general trend towards the hairiness levels observed in modern humans, variations persisted among individuals, reflecting a natural diversity similar to the range seen today. Some members of this early Homo population may have retained slightly more body hair, potentially offering better insulation in cooler climates or during seasonal changes.
Skin Color Variety: Each time a species of our genus Homo ancestors spread to new environments, the melanin mechanisms that all primates have kick in. The following is an imagined image of our ancestors in the various environments they spread into by 1.2 mya.
References
The Evolution of Human Hair and Its Role in Thermoregulation – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/the-evolution-of-human-hair-and-its-role-in-thermoregulation
The Surprising Origins and Uses of Human Hair – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-surprising-origins-and-uses-of-human-hair-29138876/
Hair | Anatomy – Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/hair-anatomy
The Role of Hair in Human Evolution – ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047248413000282
