Monster Mashup: Donald Prothero
Part 1 of Skeptic Check: Monster Mashup, featuring Donald Prothero, paleontologist, geologist, former professor at Occidental College, and co-author of Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids.
(TRT 11:45)
Big Picture Science – Monster Mashup: Donald Prothero
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The bit about yetis in American culture being pale in colour (or color) is interesting, when you consider that even in comparatively similar cultures (such as Britain), the yeti still tends to be dark. The version from Doctor Who being a case in point.
I expect the reason is very simple: Bigfoot. Particularly when used for merchandising purposes, the yeti somehow had to become distinguishable from America’s own hairy cryptic ape, and an obvious way to do that is to evolve a paler fur coat.
In countries where there isn’t as much competition from competing hairy cryptic apes, there’s no need for this cultural niche adaptation, and so the yeti remains dark.