Opal phytoliths found on the teeth of the extinct ape Gigantopithecus blacki: implications for paleodietary studies.
Identification of opal phytoliths bonded to the enamel surface of the teeth of Gigantopithecus blacki indicates that this extinct ape had a varied diet of grasses and fruits. By using the scanning electron microscope at magnifications of 2000-6000x specific opal phytoliths were observed and photographed on the fossilized teeth of an extinct species. Since opal phytoliths represent the inorganic remains of once-living plant cells, their documentation on the teeth of Gigantopithecus introduces a promising technique for the determination of diet in extinct mammalian species which should find numerous applications in the field of paleoanthropology as well as vertebrate paleontology.
Ciochon
R L
RL
Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Piperno
D R
DR
Thompson
R G
RG
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004032:Diet; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010161:Paleodontology; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure