Re: Dissecting b.p.:Reply
Elaine Morgan (elaine@desco.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 15 Jul 1996 22:03:46 GMT
In article <Dsur74.7z6@inter.NL.net> ghanenbu@inter.nl.net wrote...
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>
> >I have also wondered about the relationship between pot-belliedness and
> >sexual dimorphism in apes. Since male gorillas have an exageration of
> >this condition, and considering that human males also tend to put on
> >proportionally more fat in that area than do human females, is there some
> >phylogenetic relationship, or is this just coincidence? Male orangs also
> >show this, although males of Pan show much less of this feature.
I would think it might be a primate feature from way back. Certrainly
papers on obesity in humans refer to "male-pattern obesity" including the
paunch. I've just sent for all the backlog of Caroline Pond papers
on adipose distribution in primates and other mammals. When I get them
I'll post her opinion on this
Elaine>
>
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