West Bambutid Phenotype - Face Features & Origin

Average Face

The West Bambutid phenotype average face is a composite synthesized from multiple individual photographs by historical anthropologists. It represents a statistical impression of recurring facial features, not a real person.

Geographic Distribution

The West Bambutid phenotype is native to West Africa. The historical distribution below reflects approximate centers of prevalence documented roughly 1500 years ago; modern borders and population movements have since blurred these boundaries.

Approximate coordinates: 8.00°, -5.00° (latitude, longitude).

Physical Characteristics

Medium to dark, sometimes light (yellowish) brown skin with (reddish) brown-black peppercorn hair. (Very) short, (hyper-) macroskelic, mesomorph, occasionally hairy body. Rarely steatopygic. Meso- brachycephalic, orthocranic, rather small-headed. (Hyper-)platyrrhine. Compared to East Bambutids bodies are taller, faces longer, nasal roots higher, and prognathy stronger.

Historical Background

Type of the West African Pygmies, that split from East Bambutid during the late Paleolithic. Shows a strong rainforest adaption. Historically more widespread, still found in the forests of Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and Central African Republic. Typified by the Baka, Aka, Bongo, Gyele, and Kola. Loss of culture and forest destruction could make this unique type vanish forever soon.

Source: Human Phenotypes — West Bambutid

References & Literature

The West Bambutid phenotype entry above is compiled from the following academic references. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources for verification and deeper context.

• Lalouel, J. 1950. Les Babingas du Bas-Oubangui, Ivi. Se. 10a, I.
• Schebesta, P. 1952. Die Pygmäenvölker der Erde. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Forschungen Paul Schebestas unter den Pygmäen Afrikas und Asiens. 3 Bd. Wien.
• Froment, A. 1993. Adaptation biologique et variation dans l'espèce humaine : le cas des Pygmées d'Afrique. Bull. et Mémo. de la Soc. d'anthropologie de Paris, 5 (3-4), 417-448.
• Gusinde, M. 1950. Bemerkungen über die negriden Rasseformen im Afrikanischen Tropenwald. Paideuma 4. 255-263.
• Eickstedt, E. von. 1934. Rassenkunde und Rassengeschichte der Menschheit. Ferdinand Enke. Stuttgart.
• Baker, J.R.. 1981. Race. Oxford Univ. Press. London.
• Knussmann, R. 1996. Vergleichende Biologie des Menschen: Lehrbuch der Anthropologie und Humangenetik. 2ed. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.
• Biasutti, R. 1967 (1941). Le Razze e i Popoli della terra. 4th Ed. Vol 1-4. U.T.E.T., Torino.
• Cole, S. 1965. Races of Man. Butler & Tanner Ltd. Frome and London.
• Patin et al. 2009. Inferring the Demographic History of African Farmers and Pygmy Hunter-Gatherers. In: Di Rienzo, A. PLoS Genetics 5 (4): e1000448.

Related Phenotypes

Other human phenotypes related to West Bambutid by geography or typological similarity.

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• Guineo Camerunian

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