Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba
The type specimen of Australopithecus sediba (MH1) is a late juvenile, prompting some commentators to suggest that had it lived to adulthood its morphology would have changed sufficiently so as to render hypotheses regarding its phylogenetic relations suspect. Considering the potentially critical po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2016-07-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3571 |
| _version_ | 1818457520832774144 |
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| author | Keely B. Carlson Darryl J. de Ruiter Thomas J. DeWitt Kieran P. McNulty Kristian J. Carlson Paul Tafforeau Lee R. Berger |
| author_facet | Keely B. Carlson Darryl J. de Ruiter Thomas J. DeWitt Kieran P. McNulty Kristian J. Carlson Paul Tafforeau Lee R. Berger |
| author_sort | Keely B. Carlson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The type specimen of Australopithecus sediba (MH1) is a late juvenile, prompting some commentators to suggest that had it lived to adulthood its morphology would have changed sufficiently so as to render hypotheses regarding its phylogenetic relations suspect. Considering the potentially critical position of this species with regard to the origins of the genus Homo, a deeper understanding of this change is especially vital. As an empirical response to this critique, a developmental simulation of the MH1 cranium was carried out using geometric morphometric techniques to extrapolate adult morphology using extant male and female chimpanzees, gorillas and humans by modelling remaining development. Multivariate comparisons of the simulated adult A. sediba crania with other early hominin taxa indicate that subsequent cranial development primarily reflects development of secondary sexual characteristics and would not likely be substantial enough to alter suggested morphological affinities of A. sediba. This study also illustrates the importance of separating developmental vectors by sex when estimating ontogenetic change. Results of the ontogenetic projections concur with those from mandible morphology, and jointly affirm the taxonomic validity of A. sediba. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:43:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5803cd6605bb4a4a83a14128ae0707b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T22:43:53Z |
| publishDate | 2016-07-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-5803cd6605bb4a4a83a14128ae0707b32022-12-21T22:44:53ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892016-07-011127/89910.17159/sajs.2016/201600123571Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sedibaKeely B. Carlson0Darryl J. de Ruiter1Thomas J. DeWitt2Kieran P. McNulty3Kristian J. Carlson4Paul Tafforeau5Lee R. Berger6Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA1 Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA 2 Evolutionary Studies Institute, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA1 Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA 2 Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USAEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, FranceEvolutionary Studies Institute, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaThe type specimen of Australopithecus sediba (MH1) is a late juvenile, prompting some commentators to suggest that had it lived to adulthood its morphology would have changed sufficiently so as to render hypotheses regarding its phylogenetic relations suspect. Considering the potentially critical position of this species with regard to the origins of the genus Homo, a deeper understanding of this change is especially vital. As an empirical response to this critique, a developmental simulation of the MH1 cranium was carried out using geometric morphometric techniques to extrapolate adult morphology using extant male and female chimpanzees, gorillas and humans by modelling remaining development. Multivariate comparisons of the simulated adult A. sediba crania with other early hominin taxa indicate that subsequent cranial development primarily reflects development of secondary sexual characteristics and would not likely be substantial enough to alter suggested morphological affinities of A. sediba. This study also illustrates the importance of separating developmental vectors by sex when estimating ontogenetic change. Results of the ontogenetic projections concur with those from mandible morphology, and jointly affirm the taxonomic validity of A. sediba.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3571Malapageometric morphometricscraniofacial morphologyhominin evolutionontogenetic projection |
| spellingShingle | Keely B. Carlson Darryl J. de Ruiter Thomas J. DeWitt Kieran P. McNulty Kristian J. Carlson Paul Tafforeau Lee R. Berger Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba South African Journal of Science Malapa geometric morphometrics craniofacial morphology hominin evolution ontogenetic projection |
| title | Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba |
| title_full | Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba |
| title_fullStr | Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba |
| title_short | Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of Australopithecus sediba |
| title_sort | developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of australopithecus sediba |
| topic | Malapa geometric morphometrics craniofacial morphology hominin evolution ontogenetic projection |
| url | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3571 |
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