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Some observations on enamel thickness and enamel prism packing in the miocene hominoid Otavipithecus namibiensis
Author(s) -
Conroy Glenn C.,
Lichtman Jeff W.,
Martin Lawrence B.
Publication year - 1995
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.1330980414
Subject(s) - enamel paint , prism , geology , paleontology , materials science , composite material , optics , physics
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 an Otavipithecus/ African ape clade distinct from Afropithecus . © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.