Differences In Body Proportions Research Articles

Peculiarities of Early Ontogeny of Dwarf Forms of Arctic Charr Salvelinus alpinus Сomplex (Salmonidae) from Lakes Tokko and Bol’shoe Leprindo (Transbaikalia). 1. Pure Forms

The results of the study of growth, ossification sequence and peculiarities of the development of skeletal elements, body proportions and meristic characters of laboratory-reared larvae and fry of two dwarf forms of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus сomplex spawning at the shore slope (Lake Tokko) and in the profundal zone (Lake Bol’shoe Leprindo) (Transbaikalia) are presented. Charr from Lake Bol’shoe Leprindo demonstrated slower rates of growth and morphogenesis, retardation of the ossification of their predorsal bones series with its displacement from larval to juvenile period of the ontogeny, but the acceleration of the development of the vertebral column. High mortality of pre-larvae of charr from this lake connected with the transfer to exogenous feeding was observed. For the first time the problem of the reorganization of early ontogeny of charr of the genus Salvelinus in connection with the colonization of deepwater habitat is discussed. In larvae of charr from Lake Tokko, the ossification of vertebral centra was often accompanied by the formation of anomalous bony structures in the notochord. The phenomenon of the penetration of skeletogenic cells into the notochord, which has been described in hybrids of sympatric charr forms, was found in a pure charr form for the first time. The development of characteristic morphological features of the two charr forms in the ontogeny was traced. Differences in body proportions between their fry corresponding to those between adult fish were revealed.

Body size, shape and ecology in tetrapods

Body size and shape play fundamental roles in organismal function and it is expected that animals may possess body proportions that are well-suited to their ecological niche. Tetrapods exhibit a diverse array of body shapes, but to date this diversity in body proportions and its relationship to ecology have not been systematically quantified. Using whole-body skeletal models of 410 extinct and extant tetrapods, we show that allometric relationships vary across individual body segments thereby yielding changes in overall body shape as size increases. However, we also find statistical support for quadratic relationships indicative of differential scaling in small-medium versus large animals. Comparisons of locomotor and dietary groups highlight key differences in body proportions that may mechanistically underlie occupation of major ecological niches. Our results emphasise the pivotal role of body proportions in the broad-scale ecological diversity of tetrapods.

Comparison of Toddler Crown Rump Length and Leg Length in Four Low- and Middle-Income Research Sites: The Women First trial

ObjectivesLength at 2y of age is a strong indicator of adult height and potential for other adverse effects in adulthood; leg length (LL) is suggested to be the more nutritionally responsive component of height. These analyses examine body proportions- measured as linear crown rump length (CRL), LL, and CRL: LL- among 24 mo old children from four low- and middle-income settings with high stunting rates (average across 4 sites = 65%) participating in the Women First Preconception Maternal Nutrition Trial (WF). MethodsThe WF study is a nutrition intervention trial of maternal-child pairs in four diverse research sites (Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC], Guatemala, India, and Pakistan). At 24 mo of age, toddler length and CRL were obtained and subsequently used to calculate LL (length-CRL). ANOVAs with post hoc Tukey HSD for each parameter were performed in JMP Pro 16.0.0. ResultsNo statistical differences were seen by maternal intervention arm, thus anthropometric data from 2,157 children (DRC n = 488, Guatemala n = 540, India n = 531, Pakistan n = 598) were explored by site. While mean (±SD) CRL did not significantly differ between Guatemala and India (48.9 ± 2.18, 48.9 ± 2.30cm), Pakistan and DRC (47.7 ± 2.52, 45.8 ± 2.22cm) had significantly lower mean CRL (p < 0.001), with DRC having the lowest value. Mean LL did not differ significantly between Guatemala and Pakistan (30.6 ± 1.74, 30.5 ± 2.21), nor between DRC and India (32.6 ± 2.28, 32.3 ± 2.01cm); however, DRC and India had significantly longer mean LL vs Guatemala and Pakistan (p < 0.0001). Statistically significant differences in mean CRL: LL (p < 0.0001) were observed among all four sites, with Guatemala exhibiting the largest mean (1.60 ± 0.09), attributable to shorter LL. ConclusionsCRL and LL are indicative of proportionality, a measure of impaired growth. These data highlight that among the four research sites in the WF trial, Guatemala, which exhibits the highest rate of maternal stunting, has the least favorable body proportions (largest CRL: LL). The difference in body proportions between sites despite nutritional intervention warrants further examination of genomic and environmental (including nutritional) factors that may have an effect on anthropometrics such as LL, CRL, and CRL: LL. Funding SourcesBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH NICHD/ODS.

The Contribution of Anthropometry and Socioeconomic Status to Racial Differences in Measures of Lung Function: A Systematic Review

The current approach to interpretation of lung function measurements assumes that differences in lung function between racial and ethnic groups represent inherent and biological differences. Observed differences in lung function between White and Black populations are often attributed to physiological differences in body proportions (eg, chest size, leg length); however, most studies investigating the observed differences have not considered the impact of socioeconomic status (SES). What proportion of the differences in lung function between Black and White populations can be attributed to SES and/or differences in body proportions? PubMed and EMBASE were searched up to March 2022 for articles relating to Black race, SES, and lung function. A total of 4,673 titles and abstracts were screened, followed by assessment for extractable data; 11 articles were ultimately included in this systematic review. There is substantial heterogeneity in the contribution of SES and body proportions to the observed differences in lung function between Black and White individuals. The proportion of differences between Black and White study participants attributable to SES factors ranged from 2.2%to 43.3% in FEV1and from 4.1%to 41.9%for FVC. Studies that adjusted for sitting height explained 3%to 31.7%of the racial difference in lung function. Reproducible research aimed at explaining the etiology of the differences in lung function between populations is difficult to achieve. The evidence to support the use of race/ethnic specific equations is limited, and the practice needs to be re-evaluated.

Assessment of larval growth patterns: A comparison across five fish species in the Bay of Biscay

Hake, mackerel, horse mackerel, anchovy and sardine larvae were identified from samples of ichthyoplankton collected during eight surveys in the Bay of Biscay between 2000 and 2005. Comparative analyses were carried out to explore the early growth patterns of these species based on differences in body proportion and the interpretation of the otolith microstructure to estimate their age. Statistical differences in development rates were observed for different body proportions. On the one hand, the larvae of hake, mackerel and horse mackerel prioritise the growth of those parts of the body related to feeding (body weight, head and jaw), while those of anchovy and sardine prioritise those related to swimming (body length). We propose that these different strategies are adaptations to reduce larval mortality, each of them focusing on the main factor that controls it during the early stages: starvation and predation. These growth strategies are interpreted from an environmental perspective mainly related to the characteristics of the food and the abundance of predators in the environment in which the larvae develop during this vulnerable life stage.

Body Proportions of Football Players and the Untrained Population, and the Impact on the fit of the Trousers

The aim of this research was to identify the differences in body proportions between football players and the untrained population, and their influence on trouser fit. By identifying the differences in body measurements, and comparing the empirical and constructional values of body measurements required for the construction of men’s trousers, an attempt was made to prove the need for a change in the existing cut of trousers. A total of 324 men aged 15 to 26 years participated in the research. The survey involved 162 football players with an average playing experience of 10.7 years and 162 untrained subjects from the general population. A total of 19 variables were analysed relating to the study of the fit of men’s trousers. The SPSS software package was used for statistical data processing. The results showed that the football players were slightly but not significantly, taller, that their chest girth was almost the same as untrained subjects, and that their hip girth was slightly smaller. The greatest and most significant statistical difference was in the mid-thigh girth, which is greater in football players, and the waist girth, which is smaller in football players. Due to the identified value of a statistically significant increase of the mean thigh girth in football players, the modelling of trousers in this area was performed. The performed modelling of men’s trousers met the criterion of garment fit, and opens the possibility of cooperation with industry in terms of improving the making of cuts for the surveyed sport population.

Sources of intraspecific morphological variation in Vipera seoanei: allometry, sex, and colour phenotype

Abstract Snakes frequently exhibit ontogenetic and sexual variation in head dimensions, as well as the occurrence of distinct colour morphotypes which might be fitness-related. In this study, we used linear biometry and geometric morphometrics to investigate intraspecific morphological variation related to allometry and sexual dimorphism in Vipera seoanei, a species that exhibits five colour morphotypes, potentially subjected to distinct ecological pressures. We measured body size (SVL), tail length and head dimensions in 391 specimens, and examined variation in biometric traits with respect to allometry, sex and colour morph. In addition, we analysed head shape variation by recording the position of 29 landmarks in 123 specimens and establishing a low-error protocol for implementing geometric morphometrics to European vipers. All head dimensions exhibited significant allometry, while sexual differences occurred for SVL, relative tail length and snout height. After considering size effects, we found significant differences in body proportions between the sexes and across colour morphs, which suggests an important influence of lowland and montane habitats in shaping morphological variation. By contrast, head shape did not exhibit significant variation across sexes or colour morphs. Instead it was mainly associated to allometric variation, where the supraocular and the rear regions of the head were the areas that varied the most throughout growth and across individuals. Overall, this study provides a thorough description of morphological variability in Vipera seoanei and highlights the relevance of combining different tools (i.e. linear and geometric morphometrics) and analyses to evaluate the relative contribution of different factors in shaping intraspecific variation.

Elongofuro and Altmuehlfuro, new genera of Halecomorphi (Neopterygii) from the Upper Jurassic of the Solnhofen Archipelago and Nusplingen (Germany)

Ophiopsiformes are ganoin-scaled Halecomorphi from the Mesozoic. In the Upper Jurassic, there is a high diversity of at least eight described genera (Altmuehlfuro new, Brachyichthys, Cerinichthys, Elongofuro new, Ophiopsiella, Ophiopsis, Schernfeldfuro, Zandtfuro) plus additional fish species historically assigned to "Furo", which have not yet been revised. Recent examinations showed that fish called "Furo" are not monophyletic. Here I provide a complete morphological de- scription of two new genera and new species (Altmuehlfuro boomerang, Elongofuro woelflei) from the Upper Jurassic Plattenkalk deposits of the Solnhofen Archipelago and of Nusplingen (both southern Germany), respectively, together with a comparison of some morphological features of Ophiopsiformes. The new species are characterized by a combination of morphological characters: differences in body proportions, relative position of the fins, the morphology of several skull bones, squamation pattern, position of lateral line in the caudal area and some meristic characters (e. g., number of fin rays, and number of maxillary teeth). This is a further step to enlighten the broader patterns of basal halecomorph evolution.

Inter-regional differences in body proportions in Indian children and adolescents—a cross-sectional multicentric study

Background: Sitting height (SH) and leg length (LL) help in assessing disproportionate growth. Anthropometric dissimilarity has been observed in different ethnicities.Aim: To (1) study sitting height and body proportions in children from different regions of India; and (2) compare sitting height and body proportions with data from other countries.Subjects and methods: This was a cross-sectional multicentric observational study, where 7961 (4328 boys) 3–18 year old children from five regions (north, south, east, west and central) were measured (height, weight and SH).Results: Boys from north India and girls from central India were taller and heavier (mean height 153.2 ± 18, 146.4 ± 11), while western boys and girls were the shortest (131.1 ± 20.7, 129.8 ± 19.5) (p < 0.05 for all). The highest SH was observed in the north (79.2 ± 8.5) and the lowest in the west (68.8 ± 9.1). Mean SH:LL ratio was highest in children from the northeast (1.13) followed by those from western, northern and central India (1.12, 1.10 and 1.07, respectively) and the ratio was the least in children from south India (1.05) (p < 0.0.5 for all except northeast and west). Children from the north and west were similar to the Dutch, children from the south were similar to South (black) Africans and the north-eastern children were similar to Chinese children.Conclusion: There were inter-regional differences in body proportions; similarities in body proportions with children from other ethnicities may throw light on the migration history of Indian people.

Postembryonic Development of the Hydrothermal Vestimentiferan Oasisia alvinae Jones, 1985 (Annelida, Siboglinidae)

Allometric growth in post-embryonic development was studied in the hydrothermal vestimentiferan Oasisia alvinae Jones, 1985. In the process of growth, the length of the trunk region increases relative to the total body length from 51 to 83.4%, whereas the relative sizes of the obturacular region, vestimental region, and the opisthosoma decrease. This is connected with a strong development of the trophosome and gonads in the trunk region. It is suggested that the predominant growth of the trunk region during ontogeny is a common pattern for all vestimentiferans. We discuss the differences in body proportions of vestimentiferans that live in hydrothermal vents and vestimentiferans of cold hydrocarbon seeps.

Analysis of body proportions of Croatian basketball players and the untrained population and their influence on garment fit

The aim of this study was to determine differences in body proportions and measurements of basketball players and an untrained group of the general population, as well as the impact of physical differences on garment fit through the Croatian sizing system for labeling men's clothing based on the European standard EN 13402. It was hypothesized that clothes made according to the system for labeling men's clothing are not appropriate for the population of basketball players. Differences in morphological properties of the basketball players, as a result of many years of active sport playing, were found both by conventional anthropometric measurement method and three-dimensional (3D) body scanning. Anthropometric measurements were taken for the needs of the clothing industry according to ISO 3635, ISO 8559 and ISO 20685. The study was conducted on a sample of 189 male test subjects, aged between 15 and 25 years, who are professional basketball players and sample of a 189 test subjects for the untrained group of the general population of the same age. Statistical data results included factor and discriminate analysis. Differences in the body measurements of basketball players and the untrained group of the general population were analyzed through an independent samples t-test. Considering that differences in the upper body part have a large impact on garment fit, compared to the average body measurements, that is, the existing clothing sizing system, a proposal for the amendment of the sizing system for basketball players, with average body measurements by size, was made. In addition, for the purposes of the study, 20 anthropometric variables related to the upper body part and required for the clothing construction were analyzed. In order to test the garment fit, two men's shirt prototypes of the same garment size, one based on the existing sizing systems and one based on the proposed amendment for basketball players, were developed using a two-dimensional/3D computer-aided design system. Computer simulations performed on the average basketball player body model showed the unsuitable fit of a men's shirt constructed according to the existing sizing system and the satisfying fit of a men's shirt constructed according to measurements of the proposed amendment for basketball players, confirming the possible application of the conducted research results and the proposed sizing amendment.

Description of Rhinobatos ranongensis sp. nov. (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinobatidae) from the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal with a review of its northern Indian Ocean congeners.

A new species of guitarfish, Rhinobatos ranongensis sp. nov., is described from 5 preserved specimens, and images and tissue samples of additional material, collected from the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. This species co-occurs in the eastern sector of the northern Indian Ocean with two poorly defined congeners, R. annandalei Norman and R. lionotus Norman, which have been misidentified and confused with Indo-Pacific congeners since they were first described in 1926. Norman's species are rediagnosed based on limited new material and a re-examination of the types. In the western sector of the northern Indian Ocean, Rhinobatos annandalei has been confused in recent literature with the sympatric R. punctifer Compagno and Randall, which is represented by four primary colour morphs, including a white-spotted colour morph resembling R. annandalei. Rhinobatos punctifer also displays strong intraspecific variability and sexual dimorphism in some body dimensions. These four species of Rhinobatos have unique MtDna sequences and belong to a clade of Indo-West Pacific species that are morphologically similar. Despite the relatively small numbers of specimens available for investigation, these species exhibit some clear differences in body proportions, meristics and squamation. Rhinobatos ranongensis sp. nov. differs from its northern Indian Ocean congeners through a combination of a relatively narrow disc and mouth, high vertebral count, long snout, low dorsal fins, and being largely plain coloured. A new lectotype and a paralectotype are designated for the syntypes of R. annandalei, and the four primary colour forms of R. punctifer, the plain, white-spotted and ocellated morphs, are described and the three nominal species rediagnosed. A key is provided to the four known members of the genus in the northern Indian Ocean.

The carapace matters: refinement of the instantaneous growth rate method for Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850 (Euphausiacea)

Growth of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850 is commonly calculated using the Instantaneous Growth Rate (IGR) method based on the difference between the uropod lengths of the moulted exoskeleton and the uropod lengths after moulting. To date, this method has not accounted for sex-dependent differences in body proportion, relying only upon uropod measurements. We measured the carapace, uropod, and total body lengths of gravid females, non-gravid females, males, and juvenile krill from the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean. Growth rates derived using a combination of the carapace and uropod measurements for gravid females were different from those derived through the traditional uropod-only based IGR, whereas non-gravid females, male, and juvenile growth rates showed no significant difference between methods. The refined method we propose successfully reflects dimorphism in growth between the sexes of krill, with gravid females having enlarged carapaces during the reproductive season. The interaction between growth and reproduction must be considered to improve the reliability of predictions from krill life history models, which is possible through the use of sex-dependent IGR measurements. We propose that, whenever possible, measurements of carapace and total length should be made along with uropod measurements. Together with assessments of maturity stages of krill that did not moult during experiments, these measurements will aid in further informing krill stock assessments.

Explaining ethnic disparities in lung function among young adults: A pilot investigation.

BackgroundEthnic disparities in lung function have been linked mainly to anthropometric factors but have not been fully explained. We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study to investigate how best to study ethnic differences in lung function in young adults and evaluate whether these could be explained by birth weight and socio-economic factors.MethodsWe recruited 112 university students of White and South Asian British ethnicity, measured post-bronchodilator lung function, obtained information on respiratory symptoms and socio-economic factors through questionnaires, and acquired birth weight through data linkage. We regressed lung function against ethnicity and candidate predictors defined a priori using linear regression, and used penalised regression to examine a wider range of factors. We reviewed the implications of our findings for the feasibility of a larger study.ResultsThere was a similar parental socio-economic environment and no difference in birth weight between the two ethnic groups, but the ethnic difference in FVC adjusted for sex, age, height, demi-span, father’s occupation, birth weight, maternal educational attainment and maternal upbringing was 0.81L (95%CI: -1.01 to -0.54L). Difference in body proportions did not explain the ethnic differences although parental immigration was an important predictor of FVC independent of ethnic group. Participants were comfortable with study procedures and we were able to link birth weight data to clinical measurements.ConclusionStudies of ethnic disparities in lung function among young adults are feasible. Future studies should recruit a socially more diverse sample and investigate the role of markers of acculturation in explaining such differences.

Evaluating morphometric body mass prediction equations with a juvenile human test sample: accuracy and applicability to small-bodied hominins

Body mass is an ecologically and biomechanically important variable in the study of hominin biology. Regression equations derived from recent human samples allow for the reasonable prediction of body mass of later, more human-like, and generally larger hominins from hip joint dimensions, but potential differences in hip biomechanics across hominin taxa render their use questionable with some earlier taxa (i.e., Australopithecus spp.). Morphometric prediction equations using stature and bi-iliac breadth avoid this problem, but their applicability to early hominins, some of which differ in both size and proportions from modern adult humans, has not been demonstrated. Here we use mean stature, bi-iliac breadth, and body mass from a global sample of human juveniles ranging in age from 6 to 12 years (n = 530 age- and sex-specific group annual means from 33 countries/regions) to evaluate the accuracy of several published morphometric prediction equations when applied to small humans. Though the body proportions of modern human juveniles likely differ from those of small-bodied early hominins, human juveniles (like fossil hominins) often differ in size and proportions from adult human reference samples and, accordingly, serve as a useful model for assessing the robustness of morphometric prediction equations. Morphometric equations based on adults systematically underpredict body mass in the youngest age groups and moderately overpredict body mass in the older groups, which fall in the body size range of adult Australopithecus (∼26–46 kg). Differences in body proportions, notably the ratio of lower limb length to stature, influence predictive accuracy. Ontogenetic changes in these body proportions likely influence the shift in prediction error (from under- to overprediction). However, because morphometric equations are reasonably accurate when applied to this juvenile test sample, we argue these equations may be used to predict body mass in small-bodied hominins, despite the potential for some error induced by differing body proportions and/or extrapolation beyond the original reference sample range.

A New Species of Frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) Discovered from the Mega City of Dhaka.

We describe a new species of frog of the genus Zakerana discovered from the urban core of Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Although the new species is morphologically similar to the geographically proximate congeners in the Bangladeshi cricket frog group, we show that it can be distinguished from all congeners on the basis of morphological characters, advertisement calls and variation in two mitochondrial DNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA). Apart from several diagnostic differences in body proportions, the new species differs from other Zakerana species in having a flattened snout (from ventral view) projecting over the lower jaw, and diagnostic trapezoid-shaped red markings on the vocal sac in males. Molecular genetic analyses show that the new species is highly divergent (3.1–20.1% sequence divergence) from all congeneric species, and forms a well-supported clade with its sister species, Zakerana asmati. The discovery of a new amphibian species from the urban core of Dhaka together with several recent descriptions of new amphibian species from Bangladesh may indicate that more amphibian species remain to be discovered from this country.

Stunting and the Prediction of Lung Volumes Among Tibetan Children and Adolescents at High Altitude

This study examines the extent to which stunting (height-for-age Z-scores ≤ -2) compromises the use of low altitude prediction equations to gauge the general increase in lung volumes during growth among high altitude populations. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) of 208 stunted and 365 non-stunted high-altitude Tibetan children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 20 years are predicted using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANESIII) and the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLF) equations, and compared to observed lung volumes. Stunted Tibetan children show smaller positive deviations from both NHANESIII and GLF prediction equations at most ages than non-stunted children. Deviations from predictions do not correspond to differences in body proportions (sitting heights and chest circumferences relative to stature) between stunted and non-stunted children; but appear compatible with the effects of retarded growth and lung maturation that are likely to exist among stunted children. These results indicate that, before low altitude standards can be used to evaluate the effects of hypoxia, or before high altitude populations can be compared to any other group, it is necessary to assess the relative proportion of stunted children in the samples. If the proportion of stunted children in a high altitude population differs significantly from the proportion in the comparison group, lung function comparisons are unlikely to yield an accurate assessment of the hypoxia effect. The best solution to this problem is to (1) use stature and lung function standards based on the same low altitude population; and (2) assess the hypoxic effect by comparing observed and predicted values among high altitude children whose statures are most like those of children on whom the low altitude spirometric standard is based-preferably high altitude children with HAZ-scores ≥ -1.

Sexual dimorphism based on body proportions and ontogenetic changes in the Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis (von Olfers, 1831) (Chondrichthyes: Narcinidae)

Sexual dimorphism in the Brazilian electric ray Narcine brasiliensis from the south‑western Atlantic coast was evaluated based on body proportions and ontogenetic changes. All regions of the body were found to have differences in body proportions between the sexes, except the spiracles. The nature of allometric and isometric relationships differed mainly in terms of the six largest body dimensions. Some of these differences can be supported by the species’ life history. Principal components analysis (PCA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) distinguished the adults’ body proportions by sex. Similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) selected six variables that best discriminated between the sexes with a cumulative difference up to 70% (tail width, disc width, length between snout and first dorsal fin, pelvic fin width, length between snout and the widest part of the disc, and disc length). It was possible to select seven stable dimensions, both ontogenetic and sexual, that are recommended for use in taxonomic studies. These dimensions were interspiracular distance, spiracle length and width, upper and lower tooth band width, pelvic fin length, and length of posterior lobe of the pelvic fin. It is important to consider the differences in body proportions within a species in order to properly characterise the population and estimate its most reliable parameters.

Comparison of Malaysian and SAE J833 Anthropometric Proportions for Vehicle Package Design

Anthropometric measurements are critical dimensions when considering human interface design. This is especially true in vehicle package design where the interaction of the drive with the vehicle interior components need to be precisely determine as a mismatch between them would not only be detrimental to the drives comfort but driving performance and safety as well. In the past car makers often depends on standard databases derived from population that are not necessarily suited to the local population. Among the key concerns are the anthropometric measurements values and body ratio which would drive the design requirements of the vehicle package. Thus this paper describes the study which has been done to understand Malaysian Anthropometry in comparison of current available databases. The results shows significant differences in body proportion which may lead to the necessity to further study the effect of this differences.

Estimation of stature and body mass from the skeleton among coastal and mid‐altitude andean populations

Adult stature and body mass represent fundamental biological characteristics of individuals and populations, as they are relevant to a range of problems from assessing nutrition and health to longer term evolutionary processes. Stature and body mass estimation from skeletal dimensions are therefore key to addressing biological and social questions about past populations. Anatomical reconstruction provides the most direct proxy for living stature but is only suitable for well-preserved remains. Regression equations for estimating stature from bone lengths are therefore extremely useful, though it is well recognized that differences in body proportions limit the cross-application of equations between samples. Here, we assess the accuracy of published stature estimation equations from worldwide and New World groups applied to archaeological samples from the central Andean coast and highlands of South America. As no existing equations are clearly appropriate, new sample-specific regression equations are presented. Anatomical stature reconstruction is further complicated by artificial cranial modification (ACM) influencing cranial height in Andean samples, so this problem is investigated in the current sample. Although ACM has minimal impact here, the possibility should be explored in other samples before anatomical stature estimation is attempted. Recommendations are also made for estimating body mass from femoral head diameter. The mean of three previously published equations is shown to offer minimal bias and the most reliable estimate of body mass in the study samples.