New hominin fossils from Kanapoi, Kenya, and the mosaic evolution of canine teeth in early hominins
South African Journal of Science
| Field | Value | |
| Title | New hominin fossils from Kanapoi, Kenya, and the mosaic evolution of canine teeth in early hominins | |
| Creator | Manthi, Fredrick K. Plavcan, J. Michael Ward, Carol V. | |
| Description | Whilst reduced size, altered shape and diminished sexual dimorphism of the canine–premolar complex are diagnostic features of the hominin clade, little is known about the rate and timing of changes in canine size and shape in early hominins. The earliest Australopithecus, Australopithecus anamensis, had canine crowns similar in size to those of its descendant Australopithecus afarensis, but a single large root alveolus has suggested that this species may have had larger and more dimorphic canines than previously recognised. Here we present three new associated dentitions attributed to A. anamensis, recently recovered from the type site of Kanapoi, Kenya, that provide evidence of canine evolution in early Australopithecus. These fossils include the largest mandibular canine root in the hominin fossil record. We demonstrate that, although canine crown height did not differ between these species, A. anamensis had larger and more dimorphic roots, more like those of extant great apes and Ardipithecus ramidus, than those of A. afarensis. The canine and premolar occlusal shapes of A. anamensis also resemble those of Ar. ramidus, and are intermediary between extant great apes and A. afarensis. A. afarensis achieved Homo-like maxillary crown basal proportions without a reduction in crown height. Thus, canine crown size and dimorphism remained stable during the early evolution of Australopithecus, but mandibular root dimensions changed only later within the A. anamensis–afarensis lineage, coincident with morphological changes in the canine–premolar complex. These observations suggest that selection on canine tooth crown height, shape and root dimensions was not coupled in early hominin evolution, and was not part of an integrated adaptive package. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2012-03-01 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajs.v108i3/4.724 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Science; Vol 108, No 3/4 (2012); 9 pages 1996-7489 0038-2353 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/724/972
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/724/1087
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/724/1092
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/view/724/1090
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3342
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3343
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3344
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3345
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3346
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3349
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3350
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3351
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3352
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3353
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3354
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3355
https://journals.sajs.aosis.co.za/index.php/sajs/article/downloadSuppFile/724/3356
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT
