Most mammals seem fine with shorter hair (usually denser though). The only other case that comes to mind of very long hair restricted to a specific body area is that of horses manes, which to be fair I’m also not totally sure what purpose it serves. Many equines seem fine with shorter manes and tails that don’t have such long hair, like zebras. They swish flies away all the same.
Some animals have long hair but it covers most of their bodies (like llamas or yaks maybe), it’s not restricted to a small area. Other animals have denser or longer hair in some areas, like lions, but this serves a purpose (protection of the neck and head) and even then the length ratio between these longer hairs and the rest of the fur isn’t as skewed as that of humans.
So, why? I get that hair on the head helps protect it from the elements and sun, but why so long? Some humans can grow hair longer than their own body length, which is remarkable, and without doing any fact check I’d say we are probably among the top 5 species with longest hairs ever. Is it just a showoff feature like a peacock’s tail feathers, an indicator of overall health? Or does it serve another function as well?
I didn’t mean to type this wall of text…, thanks for coming to my TED talk
Demonstrates health history and general safety over the last potentially many years, which is good for status and attracting mates. The capacity to shear hair once stood as a statement of technological capacity and combat effectiveness: “I have a sharp knife.”
This is the answer
Alright, that’s true with the history since long hairs stay for years, good point. I’m not sure I follow with shearing and technological capacity, mind explaining that a little bit more please?
If you have a shaved face or cropped hair, it means you have access to and are possibly carrying a sharp blade. For a million years, that was high tech. It indicates that not only are you dangerous to fuck with, but you also probably have other advanced technology and culture.
I’m not claiming this is an evolutionary reason, I just think it’s interesting.
That’s an interesting take, agreed. But it doesn’t explain why the length… You can still shave hair that doesn’t grow too long. And look dangerous to fuck with
Yes, that is not an evolutionary pressure. Long manes serve the same function in humans as a peacock’s tail or a baboon’s bright red ass.