Ebook: The Paleobiology of Australopithecus
- Tags: Paleontology, Anatomy, Evolutionary Biology, Anthropology, Archaeology, Science general
- Series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology
- Year: 2013
- Publisher: Springer Netherlands
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
Australopithecus species have been the topic of much debate in palaeoanthropology since Raymond Dart described the first species, Australopithecus africanus, in 1925. This volume synthesizes the geological and paleontological context of the species in East and South Africa; covers individual sites, such as Dikika, Hadar, Sterkfontein, and Malapa; debates the alpha taxonomy of some of the species; and addresses questions regarding the movements of the species across the continent. Additional chapters discuss the genus in terms of sexual dimorphism, diet reconstruction using microwear and isotopic methodologies, postural and locomotor behavior, and ontogeny.
Australopithecus species have been the topic of much debate in palaeoanthropology since Raymond Dart described the first species, Australopithecus africanus, in 1925. This volume synthesizes the geological and paleontological context of the species in East and South Africa, covers individual sites, such as Dikika, Hadar, Sterkfontein, and Malapa, debates the alpha taxonomy of some of the species, and addresses questions of the movements of the species across the continent. Additional chapters discuss the genus in terms of sexual dimorphism, diet reconstruction – using microwear and isotopic methodologies, postural and locomotor behavior, and ontogeny.
Australopithecus species have been the topic of much debate in palaeoanthropology since Raymond Dart described the first species, Australopithecus africanus, in 1925. This volume synthesizes the geological and paleontological context of the species in East and South Africa, covers individual sites, such as Dikika, Hadar, Sterkfontein, and Malapa, debates the alpha taxonomy of some of the species, and addresses questions of the movements of the species across the continent. Additional chapters discuss the genus in terms of sexual dimorphism, diet reconstruction – using microwear and isotopic methodologies, postural and locomotor behavior, and ontogeny.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 5-6
Age Ranges of Australopithecus Species, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania....Pages 7-20
A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective on the Age of Australopithecus in Southern Africa ....Pages 21-40
Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas....Pages 41-60
Front Matter....Pages 61-62
Australopithecus in Ethiopia....Pages 63-71
The Alpha Taxonomy of Australopithecus africanus ....Pages 73-104
Australopithecus from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa....Pages 105-123
Variation in Mandibular Postcanine Dental Morphology and Hominin Species Representation in Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa....Pages 125-146
Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa....Pages 147-160
Front Matter....Pages 161-161
Comparative Evolutionary Models and the “Australopith Radiations”....Pages 163-174
Whence Australopithecus africanus? Comparing the Skulls of South African and East African Australopithecus ....Pages 175-182
The Biogeographic Implications of Early Hominin Phylogeny....Pages 183-191
Front Matter....Pages 193-194
Sexual Size Dimorphism in Australopithecus: Current Understanding and New Directions....Pages 195-212
Molar Microwear, Diet and Adaptation in a Purported Hominin Species Lineage from the Pliocene of East Africa....Pages 213-223
Some Ruminations on Australopith Diets....Pages 225-233
Postural and Locomotor Adaptations of Australopithecus Species....Pages 235-245
Shoulder Morphology in Early Hominin Evolution....Pages 247-261
Age and Sex Differences in the Locomotor Skeleton of Australopithecus ....Pages 263-272
Introduction: Issues in the Life and Times of Australopithecus ....Pages 1-3
Back Matter....Pages 273-282
Australopithecus species have been the topic of much debate in palaeoanthropology since Raymond Dart described the first species, Australopithecus africanus, in 1925. This volume synthesizes the geological and paleontological context of the species in East and South Africa, covers individual sites, such as Dikika, Hadar, Sterkfontein, and Malapa, debates the alpha taxonomy of some of the species, and addresses questions of the movements of the species across the continent. Additional chapters discuss the genus in terms of sexual dimorphism, diet reconstruction – using microwear and isotopic methodologies, postural and locomotor behavior, and ontogeny.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 5-6
Age Ranges of Australopithecus Species, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania....Pages 7-20
A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective on the Age of Australopithecus in Southern Africa ....Pages 21-40
Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas....Pages 41-60
Front Matter....Pages 61-62
Australopithecus in Ethiopia....Pages 63-71
The Alpha Taxonomy of Australopithecus africanus ....Pages 73-104
Australopithecus from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa....Pages 105-123
Variation in Mandibular Postcanine Dental Morphology and Hominin Species Representation in Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa....Pages 125-146
Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa....Pages 147-160
Front Matter....Pages 161-161
Comparative Evolutionary Models and the “Australopith Radiations”....Pages 163-174
Whence Australopithecus africanus? Comparing the Skulls of South African and East African Australopithecus ....Pages 175-182
The Biogeographic Implications of Early Hominin Phylogeny....Pages 183-191
Front Matter....Pages 193-194
Sexual Size Dimorphism in Australopithecus: Current Understanding and New Directions....Pages 195-212
Molar Microwear, Diet and Adaptation in a Purported Hominin Species Lineage from the Pliocene of East Africa....Pages 213-223
Some Ruminations on Australopith Diets....Pages 225-233
Postural and Locomotor Adaptations of Australopithecus Species....Pages 235-245
Shoulder Morphology in Early Hominin Evolution....Pages 247-261
Age and Sex Differences in the Locomotor Skeleton of Australopithecus ....Pages 263-272
Introduction: Issues in the Life and Times of Australopithecus ....Pages 1-3
Back Matter....Pages 273-282
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