An anthropometric study of northeastern Brazilians

Abstract Nearly 200 males from a distinct Brazilian population referred to as “Nordestinos” were examined for 11 bodily measurements, two derived measurements, four indices, and nine anthroposcopic observations. The population, formed principally from a mixture of Portuguese whites, Bantu Negroes, and Brazilian Indians inhabits a marginal area characterized by extreme poverty. They are small to medium in stature with leg length slightly shorter than sitting height. They are broad‐headed, and more than half have broad faces and medium nose shapes. The majority have brown eyes and black hair. A total of 36.9% show normal occlusion. The hybrid population is more variable in many metrical traits than Xingú Indians of Brazil. In stature and cephalic index and in a number of other characters the averages do not lie in an intermediate position between those of the parental populations even when these traits are distinct in the latter.