The Seminole Indians of Florida: morphology and serology.

The Seminole Indians of Florida were studied on thek three reservations for blood types, red cell enzymes, serum proteins, physical measurements, and relationships. Both serologic and morphologic factors suggest their close similarity to other Indians and small amount of admixture. The Florida Seminoles are similar to Cherokee “full-bloods” in their absence of Rho and their incidence of 0 and M. In the presence of Din they are similar to other Indians, especially those of South America. While the presence of G-6-P-D A and the frequency of Hgb. S are indicative of Negro ancestry, the absence of Rho suggests that the Negro contribution must have been small. Physical traits give parallel results. Both serology and morphology further show that the Seminoles of the Dania and Big Cypress reservations are more similar to each other than to those of the Brighton reservation, in keeping with their history. The Seminole Indians of Florida, numbering about 1,200, cluster today in three reservations, Dania just north of Miami, Big Cypress on the edge of the Everglades and Brighton on the northwestern rim of Lake Okeechobee; they also spread out along Tamiami Trail. In the summer of 1964, 150 Seminoles were studied at Dania; 263 additional Indians were studied at Big Cypress and at Brighton at Christmas time. The present article is a report on the morphology and serology of the Indians examined, a comparison with other populations, and the relationship between their physical anthropology and their history.