Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-28545689-20170209111834

The Altmer claim to be the pure descendants of the Aldmer, which might suggest that the Aldmer were tall. This can be supported by the fact that the Aylieds seen in ESO have the same appearance as the Altmer, also by the shared height of the Snow Elves, and the Orsimer. At the same time, the Dunmer are shorter than Altmer, and no explanation is given (the most likely explanation, the one some people go with is that it's because of Azura's curse, but then, why are the ESO Chimer of the same height as them, if the Chimer were just a religious group of Aldmer?). And what of the Bosmer? They are the shortest Mer race out there (if not the shortest of all races)! Maormer height is different from the Altmer, it seems, which is again a problem, considering they have also descended directly from the Aldmer (being another dissident, not ethnic group at the time). And we can't even judge the height of the Dwemer because the only two ones we get to see are a Corpus-infected, legless cripple, and a ghost who's roughly Dunmer-sized (though he could be a bit taller).

As to their skin tones, could it be a way of adapting to their surroundings? For instance, the Snow Elves live(d) in the snowy areas, so naturally, their skin and hair became white - for camouflage. The Altmer and Aylieds live(d) in temperate\ sub-tropical areas, so it's possible their skin is just supposed to be golden (same with the Chimer before the curse). The Dunmer were cursed by Azura, so no further comment there. The Orsimer appearance may be somehow related to Malacath's, but it's never explained how they got it - but considering that they live in mountanous regions, their skin should be gray or brown rather than green. Why then Bosmer skin is not brown\ green, is unclear. The Maormer skin being pale is even more of a mystery, considering they live in the tropics (normally, you get pale appearance from living underground, or deep under water - areas devoid of sun-light).

And I don't even want to begin discussion on eye and hair color, because that's even more messy, it seems (though again, Dunmer fall out of discussion because of the curse :D).

Still, thoughts? 