Clan-structured migration and phenotypic differentiation in the Jirels of Nepal

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of clan-structured migration on the between village differentiation of the Jirels, a tribal population of eastern Nepal. Data on five head measurements, stature, and digital ridge counts are utilized to illustrate the patterns of phenotypic variation. Clan structure may be a significant factor in determining patterns of variation and should not be ignored in studies of microdifferentiation in tribal populations.