Here, we present the first exome-based study of multiple geographically dispersed groups of African rainforest hunter-gatherers to examine how populations have adapted to harsh equatorial rainforest habitats. Because positive selection often targets regulatory regions [62], we combined the exome data set with SNP array data to cover both gene and intergenic regions. In doing so, we found evidence for a unique, strong range common to all RHG groups, targeting the TRPS1 regulatory region, mutations of which can cause stunted growth, characteristic craniofacial features [63] and excessive hairiness [64]. In addition, the TRPS1 transcription factor regulates STAT3, a mediator of inflammation and immunity [65], and RUNX2, which controls facial features and virus elimination [66, 67]. Interestingly, TRPS1 was recently shown to carry archaeal introgression signals in West Africans [68]. Functional studies should help establish the adaptive nature - developmental and/or immune-related - of the variation at this locus, which likely originated in extinct African hominins