Some observations on enamel thickness and enamel prism packing in the miocene hominoid Otavipithecus namibiensis
✍ Scribed by Dr. Glenn C. Conroy; Jeff W. Lichtman; Lawrence B. Martin
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1995
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 557 KB
- Volume
- 98
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0002-9483
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Otavipithecus namibiensis is currently the sole representative of a Miocene hominoid radiation in subequatorial Africa. Several nondestructive techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) and confocal microscopy (CFM), can provide useful information about dental characteristics in this southern African Miocene hominoid. Our studies suggest that the molars of Otavipithecus are characterized by (1) thin enamel and (2) a predominance of pattern 1 enamel prism. Together, these findings provide little support for the recent suggestion of an Afropithecini clade consisting of Otavipithecus, Heliopithecus, and Afropithecus. Instead, they lend some (though not conclusive) support to the suggestion of a n OtavipithecuslAfrican ape clade distinct from Afropithecus. o 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.