Melanesid

Melanesid
Group	Unknown
Distribution Map

Description

The dominant type of New Guinea and Melanesian islands. The name derives from melas (Greek) = black, and nesos = island. Probably developed through various migrations from South-East Asia during the Paleolithic and Neolithic. Medium brown to black skin, tight-curly hair, robust features, often with supraorbital arches, wide, relatively high noses and full lips, the height is variable, the limbs are long. Although features sometimes appear Sub-Saharan African, no close relationship exists, and they result from convergent evolution. Besides the Insular Melanesid proper, a more gracile, long-nosed Neo Melanesid variety is found among Papuans. Mountain Melanesids show very robust features, Tapirids are among the shortest people of the world. In the Western Solomon Islands, a very dark Bukaid variety exists. A very ancient, Australoid variety is the Paleo Melanesid .