I suppose crustaceans are another such animal that relies on the body of another living species to survive as hermit crab. But humans are the only mammal that needs to weave the vine; shear the fur; or scalp the leather from another living thing in order to survive in the wilderness.
Why is that? How did humans manage to be the only species that requires clothing to survive and needs to rely on other animals to provide material to produce clothing.
Obviously I know that synthetic fibers exist *now,* but for most of human history, we relied on animal products to clothe ourselves for as long as humans existed.
Why do hominids need clothes to live? Where is our fur? Alternatively, where are all the other animals that need to rely on clothing to supplement a protective outer layer?
In: Biology
The most ELI5 answer would be that we don’t need to make protective clothing from another animal’s fur or skin.
Our range would be greatly reduced if we didn’t though as many animals have smaller ranges based on their bodies. Polar bears can’t live in the heat of the Caribbean, many snakes cannot live in areas where the Winters go below zero for extended periods of time, etc… Without clothing we would not be able to live in colder climates and we have also lost some abilities due to wearing clothes for tens of thousands of years.
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