A biotype is a typical biological form.
The concept of biotype derives from the scientific Latin biotypus , which in turn has its origin in a compound word from the Greek language: bio (which translates as “life” ) and týpos (translatable as “type” ). The notion is used in the field of biology to name the characteristic shape of a plant or animal that is considered a model of its race or species.
Biotypes are the typical biological forms : the characters that living beings adopted through evolution and as a mechanism of adaptation to the environment. These are structural and morphological characteristics that can be classified in different ways. If we take the case of plants, among the biotypes we can name shrubs, trees and herbs, for example.
Human body biotype
When we talk about the human being, we find three body biotypes:
-Ectomorph. It refers to thin, tall and slightly muscular people. In the same way, it should be noted that they have flat chests, have a weight below average and do not gain fat easily. In addition, they have difficulty gaining muscle and their metabolism is very fast. They have a hard time gaining weight.
-Endomorph. Of this second biotype we can highlight that people who have it are short, have difficulty losing weight and have a white and round body. Furthermore, we must not overlook the fact that their metabolism is slow, that their shoulders are large and that they accumulate fat with remarkable ease. Likewise, one should not overlook the fact that they have a thick waist, short limbs, and their abdomen is usually voluminous.
-Mesomorph. Human beings who are considered to have this other biotype are identified because they have a strong body, are athletic, have broad shoulders and have the peculiarity that they very easily gain muscle but not fat. Women of this biotype have an hourglass shape while men have a V shape. Their torso is solid.
When it comes to being in shape and enjoying good health, it is necessary for people to take into account the type of biotype they have in order to choose the sport that is most suitable for them. In order to know it, they will be able to use different tests that exist on the tendencies of their body or their bone structure.
The idea of biotype is associated with the characteristic appearance of an animal or plant that is taken as a model for its species.
Difference with biotope
It is important not to confuse a biotype with a biotope . This last term refers to the place that offers the environmental characteristics necessary for the subsistence and development of a group of living beings.
The biotype is the typical model of a species; the biotope, your living space.
Biotype in psychology
In the field of psychology , the type of personality linked to a certain morphological structure of a subject is known as a biotype. In this case, the biotype covers the general characteristics of the person according to their somatic properties, based on the data that emerge from the structure of their body. The psychological characteristics of the human being, for their part, constitute their psychotype .
It should be noted that there are mixed classifications that combine biotype and psychotype to qualify people.