Abstract: Objective To analyze the characteristics of somatotypes of South Asian type, North Asian type and East Asian type, and to compare the main differences among them. Methods The characteristics of somatotypes among South Asian type, North Asian type and East Asian type in 29 Chinese Mongolian ethnic groups were compared by using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. The reasons for differences of South Asian type were that North Asian type were analyzed by using principal component analysis. Results The male groups of North Asian type were endomorphic mesomorph and the South Asian types were balanced mesomorph, while the East Asian types differed greatly from each other.The female groups of North Asian types and the East Asian types were mesomorphic endomorph and the South Asian types were endomorphic mesomorph. The somatotypes of East Asian types were similar to North Asian types but were greatly different from South Asian types.Principal components analysis showed that the main differences between South and North of male groups lied first in ectomorphy and then in endomorphy.The differences between female groups of South and North were mainly on endomorphy. Conclusion The ethnic group of North Asian type is higher than South Asian type in endomorphy but lower in ectomorphy.

Key words: Anthropometric somatotype, Mongoloid, South Asian type, North Asian type, Ethnic group, Heath-Carter method, China