Intrasexual Selection for Upper Limb Length in Homo sapiens.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Sexual selection via contest competition has equipped countless organisms with weaponry in their appendages to overpower their opponents. Here, we tested (1) whether greater upper limb length-measured as span controlling for biacromial width-confers an advantage in contest competition among adult humans, (2) several possible means by which upper limb length might increase success in intrasexual contest competition, and (3) whether, consistent with male-male contest competition creating stronger selection pressures than female-female contest competition, male Homo sapiens have greater upper limb length.

Methods

We collected fight statistics and facial and body photographs from professional combatants (N = 715) in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC; Study 1). S

SUBMITTER: Caton NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11837467 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature