Anthropometric trait

Body Type

Besides height and limb length, body types vary greatly among different indigenous peoples. For body type, besides height and cormic index, body weight, body fat, and muscularity play a role. Despite clothing, human body types follow the principles of thermal regulation, Allen's rule and Bergmann's rule. Allen's rule says that the body shapes and proportions of endotherms vary by climatic temperature by either minimising exposed surface area to minimise heat loss in cold climates, or maximising exposed surface area to maximise heat loss in hot climates. Bergmann's rule states that within a broadly distributed taxonomic clade, populations of larger size are found in colder environments, and species of smaller size are found in warmer regions. Allen's rule can partially be seen when one looks at Rohrer's index (weight/height^3). A low Rohrer's index will indicate a very slender build, a high Rohrer's index a very thickset built. The highest Rohrer's index is found in Inuit of North Canada and Alaska, the lowest in Nilotes living around the Upper Nile. In contrast, Kaup's index (better known as body mass index, BMI) (weight/height^2) shows Bergman's rule as it rises with overall size of the individuals. It reaches high values in Inuit, Polynesians, and Patagonians, very low values in Khoisan of the Kalahari desert. Besides thermal regulation, other factors have played a role, e.g. bow hunting and spear hunting strategies, the frequency of famines, and the use of agriculture. There have been various categories defined for body types. Ernst Kretschmer defined asthenic/leptosomic (thin, small), athletic (muscular, large-boned), and pyknic (stocky, fat). William Sheldon's somatotypes ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph are similar, but not identical. There have been various extensions and modifications of those typologies. Sheldon's types are used here in a slightly modified manner to illustrate the common body type of anthropological groups. The pictures illustrate very extreme examples of individuals with European ancestry. Most groups will not show such extreme expression of body type. It is important to note that the body types defined here refer to the indigenous groups given a natural nutrition. Western nutrition has been established in Native America and Polynesia and significantly increased the local Kaups and Rohrer indices as those populations are less adapted to this type of nutrition. One should note that usually all body types can appear in all populations, just at different proportions. E.g. there may be very slender, muscular Mongols even though endomorphy is more common in Mongolia. However, there exist almost no short, stocky Nilotes.

ectomorph

The ectomorph body type is characterised by slender stature, gracile bone structure, light build, and small muscles. Shoulders tend to be thin, chest flat, body fat low. They don't easily gain weight or muscle. Some definitions require long limbs as well, others don't. This page includes short-limbed, but slender and gracile types, otherwise many East Asians would remain undefined. Ectomorphy is strongly correlated with Rohrer's index. The most extreme and very long-limbed ectomorphs are Nilotes with a Rohrer around 0.95. Ectomorphy is widespread in dry tropical climate, thus most African Steppe tribes and most desert groups like Tuareg, Arabs, and Khoisan show slender bodies. In Europe it is found in several Nordic and Mediterranean groups, in Asia throughout India and parts of China and Indonesia. Common in Australian Aborigines, more rare in America, where it occurs in the Sonora desert and the Cuyo.

mesomorph

The mesomorph body type is characterised by athletic stature, large bone structure, and large muscles. Shoulders tend to be wide, chest strong, body rather low. They easily gain muscle and lose weight quickly as well. Mesomorphs have been powerful hunters in Paleolithic societies and good athletes in sports, on the other hand they require more calories than other types, which can be disadvantageous. Mesomorphs are common in African savannah groups, many live rather in humid climate than in dry climate. They are found in Europe, Native North Americans, and in South Australians. In Polynesia and Patagonia, very large mesomorphs (used to) exist with large bodies and a tendency to grow fat.

endomorph

The endomorph body type is characterised by stocky stature, soft features, and often large, but not well-defined muscles. Shoulders and not very wide unlike the hips. Body fat is high. They easily gain weight. There exist almost no long-limbed endmorphs. Endomorphy is strongly correlated with Rohrer's index. The most extreme endomorphs are Inuit and some Polynesian and Araucanian groups with Rohrers above 1.5. In those groups the muscle mass below the fat is often high. Endomorphy is advantageous in cold climate as it offers a better protection against the cold. Endomorphs require fewer calories. The body type is also found in Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe, parts of West Asia, and most of North Asia. As well as some mountains of Indochina and Mexico.