Dietary Adaptations and Intra- and Interspecific Variation in Dental Occlusal Shape in Hominin and Non-hominin Primates

• Main Author: O'Neill, Kelsey
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2016
• Subjects: Paleoanthropology; Dentition; Paranthropus; Primates; Occlusal surface; Biological and Physical Anthropology; Biology
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/4626; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5688&context=etd

Dental morphology and tooth shape have been used to recreate the dietary adaptations for extinct species, and thus dental variation can provide information on the relationship between fossil species and their paleoenvironments. Variation in living species with known behaviors can provide a baseline for interpreting morphology, and behavior, in the fossil record. Tooth occlusal surface outlines in hominins and non-hominin primates, and other mammals, have been used for assessments of taxonomic significance, with variability often considered as being primarily phylogenetic. Few studies have attempted to assess how diet might influence the pattern of variability in closely related species. Here the occlusal surface shape variability in anterior and postcanine maxillary dentition in primates is measured to assess whether the relationship between diet and variability is consistent. Data were collected from five non-hominin primates in a range of dietary categories, as well as two hominin species, including the derived Paranthropus robustus and a gracile australopith. Mapping a series of 50 sliding semilandmarks based on 2-D photographs using tpsDig software, occlusal surfaces were outlined. Thereafter, outline shapes were quantified using Elliptical Fourier Functional Analysis, and principle components and multivariate analyses were preformed to explore the pattern of intra and interspecific variability in occlusal outlines.These results suggest that there is not a clear relationship between dietary feeding adaptations for all categories examined and selection for larger premolars and molars, as well as smaller incisors, led to less variation in both anterior and post-canine teeth of the fossil hominin Paranthropus robustus.