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Some observations on enamel thickness and enamel prism packing in the miocene hominoid Otavipithecus namibiensis

  • Washington University St. Louis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Otavipithecus namibiensis is currently the sole representative of a Miocene hominoid radiation in subequatorial Africa. Several nondestructive techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) and confocal microscopy (CFM), can provide useful information about dental characteristics in this southern African Miocene hominoid. Our studies suggest that the molars of Otavipithecus are characterized by (1) thin enamel and (2) a predominance of pattern 1 enamel prism. Together, these findings provide little support for the recent suggestion of an Afropithecini clade consisting of Otavipithecus, Heliopithecus, and Afropithecus. Instead, they lend some (though not conclusive) support to the suggestion of an Otavipithecus/African ape clade distinct from Afropithecus. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)595-600
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology
Volume98
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

Keywords

  • Computed tomography
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Enamel prisms
  • Enamel thickness
  • Miocene hominoids
  • Otavipithecus

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