title: Further evidence on relative dental maturation and somatic developmental rate in hominoids.
abstract: New data on hominoid dental development are presented. Individual bivariate pairings of all mandibular teeth were made for African apes and humans. Data were analyzed with a full linear regression model. No statistically significant differences were found among apes, although a consistent pattern of earlier incisal development was observed in Pan relative to Gorilla. This is concordant with an earlier fusion of the premaxillary:maxillary suture in Pan. Only one tooth pair differed significantly by sex among apes. Two biologically distinct human samples (Libben and Hamann-Todd), although assessed differently (extraction and radiography) yielded virtually identical results. Humans differ from apes only by earlier relative calcification of their anterior teeth. This can be viewed as a consequence of reduced facial prognathism and a shift in hominid canine function.
authors.affiliation: Biological Anthropology Program, Kent State University, Ohio 44242.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Lovejoy
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Meindl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003481:Cuspid / Q000254:growth & development; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000254:growth & development*; D049690:History, Ancient; D015186:Hominidae / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000254:growth & development; D010161:Paleodontology; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000254:growth & development*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014070:Tooth / Q000254:growth & development*