J. M. López‐ReyM. D. D’Angelo del CampoG. Bettera MarcatMario A. ArrietaMariana FabraSoledad SalegaP. MercolliVerónica SeldesDaniel García‐MartínezM. Bastir2026-03-222026-03-22202610.1002/ajhb.70211https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70211https://andeanlibrary.org/handle/123456789/79585The pronounced ribcage depth in native South Americans could represent a population-specific trait maintained through long-term interactions, potentially advantageous in high-altitude settings but neutral in the lowlands. In addition, we propose that South American highlanders have a larger ribcage relative to their smaller body size compared to lowlanders. Finally, the larger and stockier male ribcage morphology in South Americans supports the notion of greater respiratory capacity and metabolic demands in males.enMorphology (biology)TraitBiologyEcologyAllometryEvolutionary biologyarticle