Skin colorimetry in Belize. II. Inter‐ and intra‐population variation

Abstract

Skin colorimetry readings taken in Belize, Central America (formerly British Honduras) with the two most commonly used portable reflectometers reveal significant differences in mean reflectance between Garifuna (Black Caribs) and Creoles, and between Garifuna in two settlements. These differences are related to variation in African, Indian, and European admixture, as estimated from serological markers. Sex differences are not evident in univariate comparisons, but females are significantly lighter than males in multivariate analyses of variance. Polynomial age trends exist in some groups for certain variables, but account for a very small amount of the variation in skin color within these groups.