Comments on: Discovered: Ancient islanders just 3 feet tall

By: Sam Christie

Sam Christie — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:41:07 +0000

“imagine chopping your head and feet off”????????
Really?

By: “Hobbit” skull found?

“Hobbit” skull found? — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:01:20 +0000

[...] “Ancient Islanders Just 3 Feet Tall“ [...]

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:31:55 +0000

Thanks for the comment – I find the issues of dwarfism and gigantism quite interesting too. The genetic processes are quite intruiging.

Thanks for pointing out the ‘nit’ – I’ve changed the image caption to clarify this. I hope it’s not down to your jealously of being a little smaller than average… sorry. Just kidding.

By: eyegillian

eyegillian — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:12:29 +0000

I remember being quite fascinated by the story of Anna, a giant who lived in Nova Scotia, and the ways people of abnormal size have tried to survive and thrive. I find these “hobbits” amazing because their short stature is not caused by dwarfism, but by the effect of environmental and diet factors on an isolated population which — I’m guessing here — started with the Filipino average height which is comparatively shorter than what you’ve illustrated here.

And I’d like to pick a nit: I know you don’t actually say that 1.8 metres is average human height, but it’s in the image description. What the Wikepedia illustration shows is average “North American male” height. Average human height would be closer to 1.68 metres.

(By the way, I’m 1.57 metres… and no, I’m not sensitive about my height, because most people I know are about the same height. So much for the average!)