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Australopithecine anterior pillars: Reassessment of the functional morphology and phylogenetic relevance
Author(s) -
McKee Jeffrey K.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330800102
Subject(s) - australopithecus , homo sapiens , biology , pillar , genus , anatomy , evolutionary biology , zoology , archaeology , geography , structural engineering , engineering
The australopithecine anterior pillars defined by Rak ( The Australopithecine Face , New York: Academic Press, 1983) were re‐examined in the fossil hominids of southern Africa. The structure and extent of this buttressing pillar was found to be variable among Australopithecus africanus and A. robustus specimens. A reduced anterior pillar was observed in Homo habilis , and a morphological equivalent can be discerned in modern specimens of H. sapiens. The anterior pillars and associated features can be viewed as a response to the occlusal forces of the entire anterolateral dentition, with a special affinity to the canine but limited functional relationship to the “molarized” premolars. Furthermore, a functional assessment of the hominid masticatory biomechanics implies that the adaptations of A. africanus are well within our expectations of a viable ancestor to the genus Homo and are not irrevocably derived toward a “robust” type of adaptation.