"H. Floresiensis (Hobbits)?" Topic

Homo Floresiensis "Hobbits" for 28mm?

link
link
link
link

Would some of these guys work?
link
link

Yes? No? Links to any other possible candidates?

CC

Poor little guys, if they really had to contend with this:

link
link
link
mzoo.com/rg_2910.htm

CC

And they moslty hunted and ate the giant rats that lived on their island!

I've got that issue of National Geographic.

The world is wide and wierd.

-Alex

Alex,
Definitely "wide and weird".

Does anyone else make pygmies that could work, or is this the only option available?

CC
link

I recently heard that the "hobbit" might have been a microcephalic woman, rather than a tiny homnid. The brain size is incompatible with tool use as found in the caves.

I recently heard that the "hobbit" might have been a microcephalic woman, rather than a tiny homnid. The brain size is incompatible with tool use as found in the caves.

I've heard there are multiple skeletons showing the same size.

It's not unusual for islands to generate pygmy varieties. The Channel Islands in California had Pygmy elephants, for example.

The "establishment" view is one microcephalic women

However there have other similar sketons that have been found, which mitigates against this.

According to this BBC story the remains of up to nine individuals have been found
link
earlier on the same view
link

This story is pro the "diseased humans"
link

against the diseased human view
link

Though there is generally a correlation between brain size and technological advancement, it's not always that certain.

We measured each other's skulls in Osteology, and found the difference in brain case size to vary greatly, even in a small group of about 24 students, with the largest being about 2200cc and the smallest about 1500cc. Ironically, the guy with the smallest brain case was getting A's and the guy with largest brain case C's.

There is a correlation between the ratio of brain to body size and intelligence. Large animals like elephants and whales have large brains compared to humans, but small compared to their body size.

Also, I'm guessing that the ancestors of these little folks started off bigger, and because of their environment and isolation evolved into a smaller and more efficient package, including their brains.

Here's a pretty interesting discussion on brain size.

link

Peachy Carnahan: Billy, why is the ball so big?
Billy Fish: Size of ball all depends on size of man's head. Big head, big ball. Little head, little ball. This Bashki man, big damn head.

For those looking for figure suggestions:

TMP link

CC

For animals they may have encountered:

TMP link

CC
link

Very recent BBC Article (May 31, 2006):

link

CC