why do asian people have slanted eyes? This question has to do with evolution. I understand why African/black are dark because they need skin that does not burn in the sun. white people are lighter because they live in a colder region.
2006-11-19 17:04:13 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Caused by a fold in the eyelids. No adaptive value to it except for people in arctic conditions with a lot of glare.
It is believed that as populations grew and died off over thousands of years, certain traits from one original individual occasionally came to dominate some geographic areas. This eyelid shape is one such trait. At least that's the current theory.
2006-11-19 17:17:05 · answer #1 · answered by Gaspode 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a misconception that all Asians have slanted eyes. The fact is that it's mostly eastern and north-eastern Asians who have slanted eyes. Most south and southeast Asians don't. In fact, not all Chinese have slanted eyes either (myself and some of my immediate relatives included). Many descendents from southern Chinese have almond-shaped eyes.
I'm afraid I don't have the answer to your question on evolutionary biology though. Even the experts are still trying to figure this one out. But from the little I've read and from what I see, there has to be more than just physical environment involved. Just one example is, why are Africans so much darker than, say, the Malay Indonesians who live right on the equator? The forests are not enough to explain it since Africa was once much more forested than it is today. There has to be other factors involved, and you'll have to dig into migratory patterns, lifestyles, and so on.
2006-11-20 01:26:05 · answer #2 · answered by Andromeda_Carina 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are referring to epicanthic eyefolds which some Northern and Central Asians have. It is an adaptation to protect against the harsh Siberian winter and Gobi desert sandstorms.
2006-11-20 06:46:11 · answer #3 · answered by Mardy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it looks like these other people are giving you BS answers so i'll try to answer you, it is extra fat that formed to protect them from the wind and sun, Asia was a huge desertland, Native Americans are originally from Asia so that is why some of them have it and also South Americans that have a lot of Native American in them, it got cold at night there so that is why they have hair that grows straight down to keep them warm, black peoples hair grows outwards to protect them from the sun, its basically whatever environment your in, caucasions have light skin because they devoloped in a cold climate with not much sun so we need our skin is light which helps us absorb vitiamin D from the sun, same thing with our eyecolor, our hair was long for warmth as well, black people have flatter nosed to breathe more humid hot air, whites have more bridged nose to breathe cool air
2006-11-20 01:10:24 · answer #4 · answered by karthik v 1 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Slanted eyes, I'm not sure. It has to do with tight muscles around the eyes.
2006-11-20 01:07:08 · answer #5 · answered by ASIAN POWER 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋