A robust comparison of biological shapes.
Localized differences in the form of two related animal skeletons are more effectively determined when resistant fitting techniques are used rather than at least squares. The repeated median resistant fitting algorithm is introduced. The methods are tested by comparing hominid skulls with those of the least squares fit, in that the differences are more readily identified and agree more closely with the structural differences perceived on biological grounds.
D000818:Animals; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010163:Paleontology; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013045:Species Specificity