Why don't humans have fur?

Question

We are mammals arent we? Aren't we the only mammal without fur?

Answer 1

Humans are unique among primates for our near-total bodily hairlessness. In fact, only a handful of the 5,000 or so mammals—mostly semi-aquatic species such as whales, walruses, and hippopotamuses—are not covered in dense fur.

Now, a controversial new theory suggests that human hairlessness evolved as a strategy to shed the ticks, lice, fleas, and other parasites that nestle deep in fur.

Mammals have fur over most of their bodies, but at some point during evolution, we humans lost that fur covering. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis argue that hair on the head is somehow different from fur because fur stops growing when it reaches a certain length, but our head hair continues to grow. To drive home their argument, they ask in a recent article in the journal Evolutionary Anthropology, "Have you ever seen a chimpanzee getting a haircut?"

When Arthur H. Neufeld, Ph.D., the Bernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, first put forth his idea that human head hair is somehow different from fur, over dinner with his close friend and colleague Glenn C. Conroy, Ph.D., professor of anatomy and anthropology, Conroy told him he wasn't aware of anyone in anthropology studying differences between hair and fur.

"So we talked about it for a while and asked questions like why does human head hair continue to grow? Where did this difference arise in the evolutionary process?" Neufeld recalls. "And the more we looked at it, the more we found that there really isn't anything in the literature."


You're not likely to find a chimpanzee at the barber shop because fur stops growing at a certain length.
One reason might be that under a microscope a hair follicle taken from the leg would look just about the same as one from the head. Our human "fur" if you will — the hair under the arms, on the legs and elsewhere — is anatomically identical to head hair.

Experiments related to hair transplantation, however, have demonstrated that where hair comes from is important in how it grows. Hair transplants always move hair from one part of the head to another because the procedure doesn't work if hair is moved onto the head from another part of the body. Nor does hair behave correctly when transplanted from the head to other parts of the body.

"When researchers transplanted hair from the head to the leg, it kept growing," Neufeld says. "It didn't grow as long as it would on the head, but the hair grew much longer than typical leg hair."

Both head hair and body fur grow in cycles. The hair follicle produces a strand of hair during its active growth phase, called anagen. Then the growth slows, and the follicle "rests" for a while, the telogen phase. Then comes exogen when the hair falls out, and the follicle begins growing a new strand of hair as the anagen phase begins again. Hair on the leg usually grows for 19 to 26 weeks and then falls out. Hair on the head keeps growing for two to six years

Answer 2

Actually, whales, dolphins, and porpoises are the only mammals without fur. We, on the other hand, DO have a fine coat of hair over our entire bodies. The fact our coats are so much shorter, sparse, and fine probably has a lot to do with the fact we've been clothed/sheltered for a while.

If you'll notice, our teeth are shrinking, too...due most likely to our preference for soft cooked foods.

Answer 3

First of all, how is this a question about botony? And second, we have hair, which is one characteristic of mammals. We are covered in the stuff, although some are smaller,less dense, and less easily spotted than those of other mammals. It is the same with dolphins, who are also mammals.

Answer 4

I think its perhaps a recessive gene? Someone will have to correct me on this - but here I go...

Since humans evolved from primates, I believe in our early history we did have a lot more fur. Over many thousands of years, the fur trait has been bred out, possibly because we don't need fur, or because those who are really furry were less likely to be chosen as reproductive partners... crap, someone else answer this! Im making it all up...Anthropologists! are there any in the house? Help!

Answer 5

people originated in Africa, hence, we did not decide on the fur because of the nice and cozy climate. It grow to be an form. also, there are different theories that we began going into the water to fish and the hair wasn't useful for going into the water regularly. So, it grow to be an form.

Answer 6

I have fur. It took many years to grow. It's on my arms chest legs and shoulders. All that's left is my back and lower abdomen. My gf is helping me grow my fur on my back whereas I'm growing the fur on my stomach area

Answer 7

humans dont have fur but instead we have hairs... around our body,

in fact, our hairs are greater in number than that of the apes but they are thinner, softer and less coarse..

i think its God's one way of determining us from the apes..

Answer 8

we do, is called hair. It's not all over because we aren't cold or dirty enough anymore. Evolution and technology removed our hair. I believe we will soon be without pinky's. My families have already started evolving. We all have pinky's that are shorter than the average person.

Answer 9

Not at all. All sea mammals are furless.

Answer 10

because we do have hair, and sweat glands. animals with fur such as dogs or cats have no sweat glands