Blacker
the Berry
the
D
ark skin is
a naturally
occurring
human skin
color that
is rich in
eumelanin
pigments
and having
a brown
color. Peo-
ple with
very dark skin are often referred to as black
although this usage can be ambiguous in some
countries where it is also used to specifically
refer to different ethnic groups or populations.
The evolution of dark skin is believed to have
begun around 1.2 million years ago, in light-
skinned early hominid species after they
moved from the equatorial rainforestto the
sunny savannas. In the heat of the sa-
vannas, better cooling mechanisms were
required, which were achieved through
the loss of body hair and development
of more efficient perspiration. The loss of
body hair led to the development of dark