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Hemispheric difference in human skin color

J H Relethford1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, State University of New York College at Oneonta, 13820, USA. relethjh@oneonta.edu

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|February 7, 1998
PubMed
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Human skin color is darker in the Southern Hemisphere than the Northern Hemisphere, challenging previous assumptions about latitude and ultraviolet radiation exposure. This finding suggests a complex interplay influencing skin pigmentation evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Human evolutionary biology
  • Anthropometry
  • Biogeography

Background:

  • Human skin color variation is traditionally linked to latitude and ultraviolet radiation (UV) intensity.
  • Existing models assume symmetrical UV radiation decrease with latitude in both hemispheres.
  • These assumptions underpin standard analyses of human skin pigmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the assumptions of previous human skin color studies.
  • To investigate potential hemispheric differences in the relationship between latitude and skin color.
  • To explore the influence of UV radiation variations on human skin pigmentation.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a nonlinear piecewise regression model.
  • Analyzed mean skin reflectance data from 102 male and 65 female samples from the Old World.

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  • Compared skin reflectance changes with latitude across Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

    • Main Results:

    • Skin reflectance is lowest (darkest skin) at the equator for both sexes.
    • Skin reflectance increases significantly more per degree of latitude in the Northern Hemisphere (males: 8.2%, females: 8.1%) compared to the Southern Hemisphere (males: 3.3%, females: 4.7%).
    • Human skin color is darker in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere at equivalent latitudes.

    Conclusions:

    • Human skin color distribution is not symmetrical with respect to latitude.
    • Higher UV radiation in the Southern Hemisphere, due to astronomical and climatic factors, may have influenced human skin color evolution.
    • Revises our understanding of the geographical patterns of human pigmentation and its adaptive drivers.