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The Ardipithecus ramidus Skull and Its Implications for Hominid Origins

2009; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 326; Issue: 5949 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1175825

1095-9203

Gen Suwa, Berhane Asfaw, Reiko T. Kono, Daisuke Kubo, C. Owen Lovejoy, Tim D. White,

Evolution and Paleontology Studies

The highly fragmented and distorted skull of the adult skeleton ARA-VP-6/500 includes most of the dentition and preserves substantial parts of the face, vault, and base. Anatomical comparisons and micro–computed tomography–based analysis of this and other remains reveal pre- Australopithecus hominid craniofacial morphology and structure. The Ardipithecus ramidus skull exhibits a small endocranial capacity (300 to 350 cubic centimeters), small cranial size relative to body size, considerable midfacial projection, and a lack of modern African ape–like extreme lower facial prognathism. Its short posterior cranial base differs from that of both Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus . Ar. ramidus lacks the broad, anteriorly situated zygomaxillary facial skeleton developed in later Australopithecus . This combination of features is apparently shared by Sahelanthropus , showing that the Mio-Pliocene hominid cranium differed substantially from those of both extant apes and Australopithecus .