Sagittal cresting in the South African australopithecines

Bibliographic Data

ID8320071
AuthorsMilford H Wolpoff (0000-0002-6218-4963, University of Michigan, corresponding author)
Year1974
Volume40
Issue3
Pages397-408
Publication date1974-05-01
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.1330400312
OpenAlexW2106502699
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited26

The evidence for sagittal cresting, and more generally the position of the temporal lines is reviewed in the South African australopithecine sample. The position of the lines is dependent on both the allometric relation of the masticatory apparatus to cranial size and on individual variation. In the Swartkrans specimens, with generally bigger body size, the influence of allometry predominates, actually overshadowing the influence of individual variation. At Sterkfontein and Makapansgat with generally smaller body size and a resulting smaller allometric ratio, individual variation has a greater influence. Of the eleven adult South African specimens, the four largest are crested. The one smaller crested specimen comes from Sterkfontein. The crested Makapan specimen is intermediate in size. The pattern of australopithecine cresting is somewhat different from other hominoids, and is part of a total morphological pattern suggesting adaptation to a diet requiring powerful crushing during mastication

Allometry · Biology · Mastication · Masticatory force · Physics · Sagittal plane · Variation (astronomy · Anatomy · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine · Orthodontics · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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