The Drimolen skull: the most complete australopithecine cranium and mandible to date.
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| Title: | The Drimolen skull: the most complete australopithecine cranium and mandible to date. |
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| Authors: | Keyser, Andre W. |
| Source: | South African Journal of Science. Apr2000, Vol. 96 Issue 4, p189-193. 5p. 2 Black and White Photographs. |
| Subjects: | Skull, Australopithecines |
| Abstract: | I report on a well-preserved Paranthropus robustus skull and another mandible from the recently discovered dolomitic cave site of Drimolen, Krugersdorp District, South Africa. The skull (DNH7), a presumed female, consists of the first cranium and articulated mandible with the most complete dentition yet described for this taxon. Found juxtaposed to the skull was a large and presumably male mandible, with almost complete dentition (DNH8). Paranthropus robustus was described from Kromdraai in South Africa in 1938 and in 1948 from Swartkrans, and has until recently been definitively known only from these two sites.(n1-n3) Owing to the distortion of many of the Swartkrans crania, it has been suggested that R robustus displays a smaller degree of intraspecific variability than the better preserved specimens of Paranthropus boisei from East Africa.(n4, n5) Owing to the excellent preservation of this new skull, it is now possible to demonstrate that R robustus shows a greater degree of intraspecific variability in both morphology and size, indicating greater sexual dimorphism in this species, than was previously thought.(n4) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Abstract: | I report on a well-preserved Paranthropus robustus skull and another mandible from the recently discovered dolomitic cave site of Drimolen, Krugersdorp District, South Africa. The skull (DNH7), a presumed female, consists of the first cranium and articulated mandible with the most complete dentition yet described for this taxon. Found juxtaposed to the skull was a large and presumably male mandible, with almost complete dentition (DNH8). Paranthropus robustus was described from Kromdraai in South Africa in 1938 and in 1948 from Swartkrans, and has until recently been definitively known only from these two sites.(n1-n3) Owing to the distortion of many of the Swartkrans crania, it has been suggested that R robustus displays a smaller degree of intraspecific variability than the better preserved specimens of Paranthropus boisei from East Africa.(n4, n5) Owing to the excellent preservation of this new skull, it is now possible to demonstrate that R robustus shows a greater degree of intraspecific variability in both morphology and size, indicating greater sexual dimorphism in this species, than was previously thought.(n4) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00382353 |
