Determination of femur stature ratio of the Ijaw and Ikwerre ethnic groups in Nigeria

Abstract

The average Femur stature ratio of the Ijaw and the Ikwerre ethnic groups in Nigeria was studied. A formula for identification of the height of these ethnic groups from their femur lengths was established. Also, Sexual dimorphisms, ethnic differences or racial differences when comparing our result to works of other authors were  examined. One thousand subjects (between the ages of 18-40years) were used for this study from the the following location: University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Choba community, Yenagoa and Amasoma community, Bayelsa State. The morphological  measurements were Stature (height) and femur length from which the femur stature ratio was calculated. The mean value of femur stature ratio of the male Ijaws was 25.5±0.72 which was significantly higher than 24.6±0.77 for Ijaw females. The mean value of femur stature ratio of the male Ikwerre’s was 23.6±0.99, while that of their females was 23.2± 0.92. There was no significant difference in the femur stature ratio of the Ikwerre males and females (P >0.05). When these results were compared between these two ethnic groups, there were ethnic differences.Thus, It was concluded that these parameters could be useful to the physical and forensic anthropologist for sex and race  identification. Further study should be carried out in other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Key words: Anthropologists, Femur stature ratio, Ijaw, Ikwerre.