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- Title
Dental development and enamel thickness of Lufengpithecus from Lufeng site in Southwest China.
- Authors
Zhao, L.; Hu, R.; Zhang, L.
- Abstract
Using SEM and nondestructive microtomographic and physical histological methods, information on dental development and enamel thickness were collected on the Late Miocene Lufengpithecus lufengpithecus from the Lufeng site in Southwest China. Preliminary analysis shows the following results: 1) The periodicity of Retzus lines (at least 9 teeth, probably belonging to different individuals) is 9 days in Lufengpithecus lufengpithecus, which is similar to that of Pleistocene Pongo or Pongo-like teeth from south China, and is shorter than that of Gigantopithecus, but is longer than that of most of fossil and extant primates. 2) The crown formation times of anterior teeth, incisors and canines, estimated by counting the perikymata, are relatively long, when compared to other extant and extinct hominoids. 3) The lateral enamel formation time of the molar of Lufengpithecus lufengpithecus estimated by counting Retzius lines, is somewhat shorter than that of Pleistocene Pongo from South China. 4) The proportion index of molar cusp/ lateral enamel formation time is larger in Lufengpithecus lufengpithecus than in Pleistocene Pongo. 5) The two-dimensional relative enamel thickness of molar indicates the thick-enamel characteristic in Lufengpithecus lufengensis. 6) The relative enamel thickness of molars is significantly variable within Lufengpithecus lufengpithecus, which might be interpreted by intraspecific variation, sexual dimorphism or different taxa in the sample. The results show that the features of enamel development and thickness of Lufengpitheus lufengensis are very important and helpful for us to understand the issues of life history evolution, adaptation, taxonomy and phylogeny of Lufengpithecus and other associated hominoids in East Asia.
- Publication
Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology, 2013, Vol 7, Issue 1, p145
- ISSN
1846-6273
- Publication type
Article