Description
Widespread African type, typical for regions with hot and dry climate. Ethiopids are characterised by very dark skin with a reddish tint, tight-curly hair, narrow, high nose, a tall, slender stature, and long heads and faces. Marked chin, thick lips.
Different groups of Africa have been regarded Ethiopid, their common morphology sometimes results from adaption to a similar climate. Besides affinities to other Sub-Saharan Africans, they are linked to early Caucasoids who partially left and migrated back to Africa.
Varieties
The most typical variety is the East Ethiopid. North Ethiopids are shorter and more robust, South Ethiopids even taller and very slender. The latter contains a Maasai subvariety. Central Ethiopids live in Ethiopian highlands. Saharan Ethiopids possibly dominated North Africa prior to its desertification. Ancient varieties include Proto Ethiopids and Omotics.
Physical Traits
Height: Tall
Build: Slender
Skull: Long
Face: Long, narrow
Nose: Narrow, high
Skin: Very dark with reddish tint
Hair texture: Tight-curly
Lips: Thick
Chin: Marked
The Ethiopid type is characterized by a distinctive combination of features adapted to hot, dry climates. The very dark skin with a characteristic reddish undertone distinguishes them from other African types. The facial structure is notably long and narrow with a marked chin and thick lips. The nose is high and narrow, which is relatively uncommon among Sub-Saharan African populations. The tight-curly hair texture is typical of African populations. Overall body build is tall and slender with long limbs, representing an adaptation to hot climates (Allen's rule).
Literature References
The Ethiopid type has been recognized and described by numerous anthropologists throughout the 20th century under various names and classification systems.
- Deniker (1889) - Ethiopienne
- Sergi (1908) - Homo africanus
- Haddon (1925) - Hamite
- Coon et al. (1950) - Hamite
- Cheboksarov (1951) - East African
- Eickstedt (1952) - Äthiopid
- Biasutti (1967) - Etiopidi
- Lundman (1967) - Äthiopid
- Vallois (1968) - Éthiopienne
- Debets (1974) - Ethiopian
- Vogel (1974) - Äthiopid
- Baumann (1975) - Paranegrid
- Alexeev (1979) - Ethiopian
- Knussmann (1996) - Äthiopid
