Evolution

[Barquentine]

Has anyone noticed the preponderance of large proboscises among Antipodean humans? Is this an evolutionary thing?

[rojash]

Well, as a proboscis is defined as a "long snout; prominent nasal organ", the phrase "large proboscises" would seem to be tautological.

[heathfield]

It has been suggested by anthropologists that long noses developed as humans moved from the tropics into cooler environments. The increase in length helped air to be warmed more as it was drawn into the lungs.

[wildwood]

No more so than in Africans and other dark-skinned races. It is an adaptation to breathing in warm air. Warm air contains less oxygen than cold air.