Frederick E. Grine

Evolutionary History of the Robust Australopithecines

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

In paleoanthropology the group of hominids known as the "robust" australopithecines has emerged as one of the most interesting. Through them we have the opportunity to examine the origin, natural history, and ultimate extinction of not just a single species, but of an entire branch in the hominid fossil record. It is generally agreed that the human lineage can be traced back to this group of comparatively small-brained, large-toothed creatures. This volume focuses on the evolutionary history of these early hominids with state-of-the-art contributions by leading international authorities in the field. Although a case can be made for a "robust" lineage, the functional and taxonomic implications of the morphological features are subject to vigorous disagreement. An area of lively debate is the possible causal relationship between the presence of early Homo and the origin, evolution, and virtual extinction of "robust" australopithecines.This volume summarizes what has been learned about the evolutionary history of the "robust" australopithecines in the 50 years since Robert Broom first encountered the visage of a new kind of ape-man from Kromdraai. New discoveries from Kromdraai to Lomekwi have served to keep us aware that the paleontological record for hominid evolution is hardly exhausted. Because of such finds no single volume can hope to stand as a summary on the "robust" australopithecines for very long, but this classic volume comes close to achieving this goal. The book sheds new light upon some old questions and also acts to provide new questions. The answers to those questions bring us closer to a fuller understanding and appreciation of the origins, evolution, and ultimate demise of the "robust" australopithecines. Since the "robust" australopithecines most likely stand as our closest relatives, a better understanding of their origin, history, and demise serves to provide heightened appreciation of the course of human evolution itself. This definitive volume addresses the questions and problems surrounding this important lineage.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Routledge
• Seitenzahl: 550
• Erscheinungstermin: 15. April 2008
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 254mm x 178mm x 29mm
• Gewicht: 1022g
• ISBN-13: 9780202361376
• ISBN-10: 0202361373
• Artikelnr.: 22931782

Autorenporträt

Frederick E. Grine

Inhaltsangabe

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Contributors
I. Studies of the Craniodental Evidence
1. Enamel Thickness and Development in Australopithecus and Paranthropus
2. Growth of Teeth and Development of the Dentition in Paranthropus
3. Implications of In Vivo Experiments for Interpreting the Functional Significance of "Robust" Australopithecine Jaws
4. Enlarged Occipital/Marginal Sinuses and Emissary Foramina: Their Significance in Hominid Evolution
5. "Robust" Australopithecine Brain Endocasts: Some Preliminary Observations
6. Growth Processes in the Cranial Base of Hominoids and Their Bearing on Morphological Similarities that Exist in the Cranial Base of Homo and Paranthropus
II. Studies of the Postcranial Evidence
7. New Estimates of Body Size in Australopithecines
8. Associated Cranial and Postcranial Bones of Australopithecus boisei
9. New Estimates of Body Weight in Early Hominids and Their Significance to Encephalization and Megadontia in "Robust" Australopithecines
10. New Postcranial Remains from Swartkrans and Their Bearing on the Functional Morphology and Behavior of Paranthropus robustus
III. Studies of Variation and Taxonomy
11. Variation
Sexual Dimorphism and the Taxonomy of Australopithecus
12. On Variation in the Masticatory System of Australopithecus boisei
13. Evolution of the " Robust" Australopithecines in the Omo Succession: Evidence from Mandibular Premolar Morphology
14. New Craniodental Fossils of Paranthropus from the Swartkrans Formation and Their Significance in " Robust" Australopithecine Evolution
IV. Studies of Evolutionary Relationships
15 The Evolution of Australopithecus boisei
16. Implications of KNM-WT 17000 for the Evolution of "Robust" Australopithecus
17. Are " Robust" Australopithecines a Monophyletic Group?
18. A New Australopithecus Cranium from Sterkfontein and Its Bearing on the Ancestry of Paranthropus
19. Numerous Apparently Synapomorphic Features in Australopithecus robustus
Australopithecus boisei and Homo habilis: Support for the Skelton-McHenry-Drawhorn Hypothesis
V. Studies of Paleogeography
Paleoecology and Natural History
20. New Information from the Swartkrans Cave of Relevance to "Robust" Australopithecines
21. Chronology of South African Australopith Site Units
22. "Robust" Hominids and Plio-Pleistocene Paleogeography of the Turkana Basin
Kenya and Ethiopia
23. Habitat Preference and Paleoecology of Australopithecus boisei in Eastern Africa
24. The Deep-Sea Oxygen Isotope Record
The Global Ice Sheet System and Hominid Evolution
25. Late Pliocene Climatic Events and Hominid Evolution
26. Tooth Morphology
Wear and Diet in Australopithecus and Paranthropus from Southern Africa
27. The Comparative Biology of " Robust" Australopithecus: Clues from Context
28. Divergence between Early Hominid Lineages: The Roles of Competition and Culture
29. The Causes of " Robust" Australopithecine Extinction
VI. Summary Comments
30. Evolutionary History of the "Robust" Australopithecines: A Summary and Historical Perspective
Specimen Index
Subject Index