Suwa Gen, Kono Reiko T, Simpson Scott W, Asfaw Berhane, Lovejoy C Owen, White Tim D
University Museum, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan.
Science. 2009 Oct 2;326(5949):94-9.
The Middle Awash Ardipithecus ramidus sample comprises over 145 teeth, including associated maxillary and mandibular sets. These help reveal the earliest stages of human evolution. Ar. ramidus lacks the postcanine megadontia of Australopithecus. Its molars have thinner enamel and are functionally less durable than those of Australopithecus but lack the derived Pan pattern of thin occlusal enamel associated with ripe-fruit frugivory. The Ar. ramidus dental morphology and wear pattern are consistent with a partially terrestrial, omnivorous/frugivorous niche. Analyses show that the ARA-VP-6/500 skeleton is female and that Ar. ramidus was nearly monomorphic in canine size and shape. The canine/lower third premolar complex indicates a reduction of canine size and honing capacity early in hominid evolution, possibly driven by selection targeted on the male upper canine.
中阿瓦什的拉密达地猿样本包含145颗以上的牙齿，包括相关的上颌和下颌牙齿组。这些有助于揭示人类进化的早期阶段。拉密达地猿没有南方古猿的犬齿后巨齿症。它的臼齿釉质较薄，功能上不如南方古猿的臼齿耐用，但缺乏与成熟果实食性相关的薄咬合面釉质的衍生黑猩猩模式。拉密达地猿的牙齿形态和磨损模式与部分陆生、杂食/果食的生态位一致。分析表明，ARA-VP-6/500骨架为雌性，拉密达地猿的犬齿大小和形状几乎没有性别二态性。犬齿/下第三前磨牙复合体表明，在人类进化早期，犬齿大小和磨锐能力有所降低，这可能是由针对雄性上犬齿的选择驱动的。
