Open AccessOpal phytoliths found on the teeth of the extinct ape Gigantopithecus blacki: implications for paleodietary studies.
Author(s) -
Russell L. Ciochon,
Dolores R. Piperno,
R. W. Thompson
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.87.20.8120
Subject(s) - paleoanthropology , phytolith , biology , extinct species , enamel paint , vertebrate , paleontology , zoology , evolutionary biology , botany , extant taxon , dentistry , medicine , pollen , biochemistry , gene
Identification of opal phytoliths bonded to the enamel surface of the teeth of Gigantopithecus blacki indicates that this extinct ape had a varied diet of grasses and fruits. By using the scanning electron microscope at magnifications of 2000-6000x specific opal phytoliths were observed and photographed on the fossilized teeth of an extinct species. Since opal phytoliths represent the inorganic remains of once-living plant cells, their documentation on the teeth of Gigantopithecus introduces a promising technique for the determination of diet in extinct mammalian species which should find numerous applications in the field of paleoanthropology as well as vertebrate paleontology.