Ontogenetic and static allometry in the human face

Contrasting Khoisan and Inuit

Bibliographic Data

ID8319035
AuthorsSarah E Freidline (0000-0003-4872-4924, Department of Human Evolution Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Deutscher Platz 6 Leipzig 04103 Germany, corresponding author), Philipp Gunz (0000-0002-2350-4450, Department of Human Evolution Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Deutscher Platz 6 Leipzig 04103 Germany), Jean-Jacques Hublin (0000-0001-6283-8114, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology), Jean‐jacques Hublin (Department of Human Evolution Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Deutscher Platz 6 Leipzig 04103 Germany)
Year2015
Volume158
Issue1
Pages116-131
Publication date2015-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.22759
PMID26146938
OpenAlexW1836461120
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited93

OBJECTIVES: Regional differences in modern human facial features are present at birth, and ontogenetic allometry contributes to variation in adults. However, details regarding differential rates of growth and timing among regional groups are lacking. We explore ontogenetic and static allometry in a cross-sectional sample spanning Africa, Europe and North America, and evaluate tempo and mode in two regional groups with very different adult facial morphology, the Khoisan and Inuit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semilandmark geometric morphometric methods, multivariate statistics and growth simulations were used to quantify and compare patterns of facial growth and development. RESULTS: Regional-specific facial morphology develops early in ontogeny. The Inuit has the most distinct morphology and exhibits heterochronic differences in development compared to other regional groups. Allometric patterns differ during early postnatal development, when significant increases in size are coupled with large amounts of shape changes. All regional groups share a common adult static allometric trajectory, which can be attributed to sexual dimorphism, and the corresponding allometric shape changes resemble developmental patterns during later ontogeny. DISCUSSION: The amount and pattern of growth and development may not be shared between regional groups, indicating that a certain degree of flexibility is allowed for in order to achieve adult size. In early postnatal development the face is less constrained compared to other parts of the cranium allowing for greater evolvability. The early development of region-specific facial features combined with heterochronic differences in timing or rate of growth, reflected in differences in facial size, suggest different patterns of postnatal growth

Allometry · Biology · Evolutionary biology · Heterochrony · Morphology (biology) · Ontogeny · Sexual dimorphism · Zoology · Ecology · Face recognition and analysis · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Morphological variations and asymmetry

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