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Why did Neanderthals have broad chests and short limbs?
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Neanderthal
Artist's rendering of Homo neanderthalensis, who ranged from western Europe to Central Asia for some 100,000 years before dying out approximately 30,000 years ago.
Neanderthals possessed broad chests and short limbs as an evolutionary adaptation to cold-adapted environments. This robust body build served to protect their extremities from cold stress and helped conserve body heat.1
These physical traits align with Bergmannâs Rule, a biological principle stating that warm-blooded animals in colder regions tend to be bulkier to optimize the ratio of body surface area to weight. By maintaining a more compact and massive frame, Neanderthals were better equipped to regulate their internal temperature in harsh climates.12