Variation in enamel thickness within the genus Homo

Journal of Human Evolution
Tanya M SmithJean-Jacques Hublin

Abstract

Recent humans and their fossil relatives are classified as having thick molar enamel, one of very few dental traits that distinguish hominins from living African apes. However, little is known about enamel thickness in the earliest members of the genus Homo, and recent studies of later Homo report considerable intra- and inter-specific variation. In order to assess taxonomic, geographic, and temporal trends in enamel thickness, we applied micro-computed tomographic imaging to 150 fossil Homo teeth spanning two million years. Early Homo postcanine teeth from Africa and Asia show highly variable average and relative enamel thickness (AET and RET) values. Three molars from South Africa exceed Homo AET and RET ranges, resembling the hyper thick Paranthropus condition. Most later Homo groups (archaic European and north African Homo, and fossil and recent Homo sapiens) possess absolutely and relatively thick enamel across the entire dentition. In contrast, Neanderthals show relatively thin enamel in their incisors, canines, premolars, and molars, although incisor AET values are similar to H. sapiens. Comparisons of recent and fossil H. sapiens reveal that dental size reduction has led to a disproportionate decrease in coronal dentine...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 13, 2013·Journal of Human Evolution·David M AlbaSalvador Moyà-Solà
Jan 16, 2014·PloS One·Isabelle CrevecoeurBernard Wood
Mar 29, 2014·Journal of Human Evolution·Stefano BenazziJean-Jacques Hublin
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