Abstract
Human ontogeny requires nearly twice the time as that of living apes1. This extended period of maturation is usually regarded as a significant evolutionary advance enhancing the importance of learning1–5. Mann6 suggested that alteration of the timing of growth and development occurred very early in hominid evolution, using evidence based on a human–like pattern of dental development identified in juvenile hominid dentitions from South African cave sites (primarily Australopithecus robustus from Swartkrans). He interpreted a human–like pattern to indicate a long human-like schedule of maturation. In contrast, recent study of incremental lines in tooth enamel7 suggests short developmental periods for Australopithecus and even for early members of the genus Homo. Here I report patterns of dental development for A. afarensis, A. africanus, A. robustus, A. boisei, H. habilis and early H. erectus, indicating that A. robustus and A. boisei (‘robust’ australopithecines) differ from other hominid species. Most early hominids resemble pongids rather than modern humans in patterns of dental development.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Schultz, A. H. in Human Growih (ed. Tanner, J. M.) 1–20 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1960).
Huxley, J. Problems of Relative Growth (Methuen, London, 1932).
Tanner, J. M. Growth at Adolescence (Thomas, Springfield, 1955).
Bartholomew, G. A. & Birdsell, J. B. Am. Anthropol. 55, 481–498 (1953).
Dobzansky, T. Mankind Evolving (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1962).
Mann, A. Paleodemographic Aspects of the South African Australopithecines (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1975).
Bromage, T. G. & Dean, M. C. Nature 317, 525–527 (1985).
Leakey, M. G. & Leakey, R. E. Koobi Fora Research Project Vol. 1 (Clarendon, Oxford, 1978).
White, T. D. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 46, 197–230 (1977).
Moorrees, C. F. A. et al. J. dent. Res. 42, 1490–1502 (1963).
Fanning, E. A. N.Z. Dent. J. 57, 202–217 (1961).
Anderson, D. L. et al. J. foren. Sci. 21, 191–200 (1976).
Nolla, C. M. J. dent. Child. 27, 254–266 (1960).
Garn, S. M. et al. J. dent. Res. 38, 135–148 (1959).
Trodden, B. J. A Radiographic Study of the Permanent Teeth in Inuit and Indian Children (National Museum of Man, Ottawa, 1982).
Dean, M. C. & Wood, B. A. Folia Primatol. 36, 111–127 (1981).
Brown, F. et al. Nature 316, 788–792 (1985).
Dahlberg, A. A. & Menegaz-Bock, R. M. J. dent. Res. 37, 1123–1140 (1958).
Skinner, M. F. & Sperber, G. H. Atlas of Radiographs of Early Man (Liss, New York, 1982).
Grine, F. E. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 86, 43–71 (1981).
Mann, A. Man 7, 379–386 (1972).
Isaac, G. Scient. Am. 238(4), 90–108 (1978).
Isaac, G. in Current Argument on Early Man (ed. Konigsson, L. K.) 226–251 (Pergamon, New York, 1980).
Lovejoy, C. O. Science 211, 341–350 (1981).
Pilbeam, D. in Current Argument on Early Man (ed. Konigsson, L. K.) 261–285 (Pergamon, New York, 1980).
Binford, L. R. AnthroQuest 32, 1, 15–20 (1985).
Sacher, G. A. in Primate Functional Morphology and Evolution (ed. Tuttle, R. H.) 417–441 (Mouton, The Hague, 1975).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Smith, B. Dental development in Australopithecus and early Homo. Nature 323, 327–330 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/323327a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/323327a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Growth and development of the third permanent molar in Paranthropus robustus from Swartkrans, South Africa
Scientific Reports (2020)
-
Life-History Inference in the Early Hominins Australopithecus and Paranthropus
International Journal of Primatology (2012)
-
Evolutionary Development in Australopithecus africanus
Evolutionary Biology (2012)
-
Middle Childhood and Modern Human Origins
Human Nature (2011)
-
A Faithful Record of Stressful Life Events Recorded in the Dental Developmental Record of a Juvenile Gorilla
International Journal of Primatology (2006)