Interesting, I once read that there were no cattle or horses South of the
Sahara Desert, because they were killed off by trypanosomiasis (sleeping
sickness) from the tsetse fly. Enormous implications for neotony and the
structure and progress of transport and civilisation. (until Europeans
imported them).
Insect-borne disease has had a major role in history. Caesar drained the
swamps around Rome to prevent malaria- this must have been a big help.
As an aside. Now, we get toothbrush-borne disease. If you've ever had a bug
you can't shake for weeks, take a look at
http://www.sover.net/~meg/hygenic.html .
Ben Balzer


----- Original Message -----
From: Amadeus Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, 14 July 1999 1:56
Subject: [P-F] Theory about Neanderthals, Flies and Zebras


> S.B. Feldman wrote:
> > Check out Feature Article: Who Were the Neandertals?
> > http://www.earthsky.com/Features/Articles/neandertals.html
> Thank you for this amusing and nice written reference.
> The description of neanderthal physique ...
>
> >Would you recognize a Neandertal man if he
> >walked down the street? From a distance, you'd
> >see a short, stocky, heavily-built man. He has a
> >large head, short arms and legs. As he strolls
> >towards you, you notice that his head is long and
> >somewhat flattened at the top, not domed like
> >yours. He has large feet and hands. His face
> >reveals a large nose, small chin, low forehead,
> >and small cheekbones. Most prominent,
> >however, are the protruding brows over each
> >eye. He appears very muscular and has an
> >almost barrel-like chest.
>
> ..reminded me of a
> scientist i heard in the local radio talking about his theory,
> I'd just like to report to you (noting more intended).
>
> Well, he thinks to have found that humans had 3 main
> "out of africa" events..
> 1.homo erectus (who has been found in many parts of the world)
> 2.homo neanderthalensis
> 3.anatomically modern humans (us)
>
> Why did they leave anyway? Since it was seemingly not harsher,
> and enough food was found there.
> Well - according to his theory -
> it were the mosquitos with their danger of deseases,
> which forced humans to leave their area - exately in the
> periods of increased humidity - ice age - ideal for mosquitos.
>
> All this because the human spleen (the organ) has -like with horses-
> a purpose different from other animals.
> Other animals have the spleen to detoxify the blood whereas
> horses and humans use it as a blood reservoir, when running.
> (I always wondered what that organ was good for).
>
> Well and horses had a different approach against the mosquitos:
> they developed stripes and became zebras.
> These stripes should irritate the insects' facette eyes, so that it
> can't find the zebra (or less efficiently).
> Bringing normal horses to africa was reported to have failed.
>
> And humans left the worm africa and headed for cold ice age europe
> to escape the mosquitos.
> Well, better, because without the danger of deseases their
> reproduction and survival chances were better...
>
> And then, the 3rd wave of humans (Cro Magnon) at last was successful
> enough to conquer the rest of the world - and staying - up to now.
>
> What do you think?
>
> I think it's a little funny - but maybe there is a point with it.
>
> Next time outside in the evening  i might consider to wear a zebra
>
> t-shirt or dress or paint stripes on the body..
> test if it works. :-)
>
> regards
>
> Amadeus
>
> --
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