The Ardipithecus ramidus skull and its implications for hominid origins.

Full Abstract

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.

Author information

Author/s: Suwa, Gen (G); Asfaw, Berhane (B); Kono, Reiko T (RT); Kubo, Daisuke (D); Lovejoy, C Owen (CO); White, Tim D (TD);

Affiliation: University Museum, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. suwa(-atsign-)um.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 326 (issue 5949) : pp 68e1-7

Dates: Created 2009/10/06; Completed 2009/10/16;

PMID: 19810194, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/16/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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