Robustness (morphology)
It has been suggested that this article be merged with Gracility. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2018. |
In biology, robustness is used to describe a species with a morphology based on strength and a heavy build. The alternative morphology is the gracile body type.
For example, comparing similar species, rats have robust body types while mice are gracile. Male and female members of the same species may display sexual dimorphism and have robust and gracile morphologies.[citation needed]
The terms "robust" vs. "gracile" are used relatively in the context of human evolution, to distinguish:
- "robust" vs. "gracile" australopithecines, see Paranthropus
- "robust" archaic humans vs. "gracile" anatomically modern humans
- "robust" early modern humans (Cro-Magnon) vs. "gracile" Epipaleolithic humans (Combe-Capelle)
References
This biology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |