Hi folks,

Was looking around for a cold adaption thread. Seems we touch on it a lot when discussing hair, swimming, diet, range, nomadicism/migration, general physiology etc, but couldn't find a suitable thread to gatecrash.

Now obviously, some form of hair covering, (hollow, single layer, downy undercoated, curly, straight, plaid or plaited) helps with this as does physical size (Volume goes up with the cube of dimensions whereas the surface area heat can be lost from is only the square) but I'm wondering if we might have missed a possibility. This would be due to comparing Sas too closely with modern "domesticated" humans.

In other animals, brown fat, or more properly Brown Adipose Tissue, plays an important role in thermogenesis (Making heat) in humans it is generally present at birth, and allows a newborn some tolerance to survive temperature fluctuations, but tends to be replaced with White Adipose Tissue as humans reach adulthood. I think if conditions were right, humans would probably have the genetic potential to retain significant amounts of brown fat, but in our comfortable, fire using, skin wearing lives we have little necessity for it any more. In some individuals it has been observed in non-negligible amounts, but it's generally unusual for us to have it. Anyway, in comparing human physiology with what we might guess could be likely for a Sasquatch type creatures physiology, it's something we probably forget about or ignore, due to it not being prevalent in ourselves. Ergo, figuring out how long "normal" and normal sized humans last when dropped into icy cold water may not necessarily give us a good picture of how our big hairy friend might cope with cold.

For a quick overview of what the heck this stuff is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_adipose_tissue

Here are some of the things that make me suppose that brown fat may be more prevalent in Sasquatch than in humans and consequently important to it's survival in our climate.

First, typical location of brown fat in hominids is on the chest, shoulders, upper back, neck... now even though they are undoubtedly powerful, this would have a further tendency to make them look very full in the chest, and generally contribute to the impression of a well built upper body.

Second, the reported sleeping posture of Sasquatches, that of being in a fetal position resting on the knees and arms, possibly in a hollow, scrape or "nest" would put this inbuilt "electric blanket" on top, where one suppose it would be most protective and beneficial in extreme conditions, comprising as it does the majority of the Sasquatch's exposed surface in this position.

Thirdly, supposed "invincibility", in addition to protecting against hypothermia, brown fat also protects against hypoxia, lack of oxygen. Thus shot in the chest with his lungs turned to jello, our poor maligned Sas still manages to depart the scene. May also make them capable of swimming under water for lengths of time that seem longer than extrapolated from human endurance.

Fourthly, evasiveness, brown fat is easily tapped as an energy source in times of hypoglycemia, it might be his "camels hump", ergo, he can outdistance any man, hound or horse, pursuit because of extra energy reserves, he might be able to go longer and harder than we might currently suspect, ergo, easily getting far ahead of pursuers that have to eat more often.

Fifthly, discussion on hair covering, efficiency due to size, and other cold adaptions, tends towards doubt that that is enough to see him through the winters in the northern part of the continent, despite that he appears to be "around" still in quite severe conditions.


Okay, I know it's all pretty weak, but seems to me a potential explanation that makes him a more "possible" creature,

regards,

Flash.

Interesting information. I can see why you would need to start a new thread for this since the thermal issue was brought up in so many other ones. Also just as there are so many threads and theories about this, it probably isn't just one thing or the other but rather a combination of these various things. We could all be right. Considering all these possible ways of keeping warm in even the worst weather just strengthens my belief that they are just as active during the winter. WE just aren't out there as much. Though I think they would avoid the deepest snows. If they are known to sink so far into harder soils, they would sink like a rock in snow. Thier trackways in deep snow would be a dead giveaway to thier position.

It's a nice idea, and I'm a bit surprised that it hasn't been discussed previously. I have to agree it's a possible explanation for some of the different 'observations' of Bigfoot. I would agree with jasonch1112 that the observations are likely to be attributed to a combination of multiple traits, most of which have been discussed in other threads.

However, is there evidence of higher amounts of brown adipose tissue in primates surviving in cold climates, for example the primates found at high elevations? Also, and this is probably a harder question, is there evidence in the fossil record of humans, or human ancestors having higher levels of brown adipose tissue prior to the advent of electricity and heating?

I am rather disappointed this thread hasn't gotten more attention.