Examination of the Phylogenetic Value of Molar Cusp Patterns for Australopithecus Paranthropus and Early Homo
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2000 Examination of the phylogenetic value of molar cusp patterns for Australopithecus Paranthropus and early Homo Michael Sperazza The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Sperazza, Michael, "Examination of the phylogenetic value of molar cusp patterns for Australopithecus Paranthropus and early Homo" (2000). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 7080. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/7080 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of IVIONTANA Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "Yes" or "No" and provide signature ** Yes, I grant permission No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature D ate ^ 00 Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author's explicit consent. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. An Examination of the Phylogenetic Value of Molar Cusp Patterns for Australopithecus^ Paranthropus and EarlyHomo by Michael Sperazza B. S., University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 1980 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts The University of Montana 2000 Approved By: UMai^UUc- Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMl Number: EP37881 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT OisMTtatkM^ PuWi*hmg UMl EP37881 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Sperazza, Michael, M A. Anthropology, March 2000 An Examination of the Phylogenetic Value of Molar Cusp Patterns for Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Early Homo I/) . / / I /}/] /? Director: Dr. Randall R. Skelton The objective of this research was to test hypotheses concerning the relevance of molar cusp patterns for elucidating hominid phylogeny, especially the phylogenetic relationships of the Australopithecine and Paranthropus species' to each other and to “early Homo”. Studies on molar cusp variation in modem human dentition have shown that cusp patterns are shared between populations, and that certain patterns or frequencies might be useful statistical markers for population affinity and ancestry. Variations in cusp pattern frequencies within hominid species may show differences from site to site, and through time. Additionally, some of the cusp patterns present in a species would be expected to appear in the descendant species. These patterns should be traceable, since Australopithecus and Paranthropus dentition are similar to that of humans. During the course of this research I set to test the following four working hypotheses, looking for support or results that would falsify the hypothesis. A) Among species molar cusp patterns will exhibit variation. B) Differences in frequency of cusp patterns will exist among species. C) Cusp patterns will exhibit a relationship to taxonomic classifications. D) That cusp patterns are patterned in a way that gives insight to phylogenetic relationships. While the results of this research did not establish unequivocal statistical distinction among species, it did show some frequencies of cusp pattern, cusp number and carabelli trait interrelationships, such that these non-metric traits may be used to support other methods of species identification of hominid remains. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Page Abstract............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. v Table of Tables ....................................................................................................................vi Table of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Chapter 1 : Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Implications of Research Project .................................................................. 3 General Dentition Background ..................................................................... 4 Previous Research ......................................................................................... 8 Metric Studies ................................................................................................8 Metric Fissure Patterns .......................................................................... 9 Enamel Thickness .................................................................................... 10 Shape Studies ...........................................................................................11 Crown Base A rea.....................................................................................12 Molar Size Order.....................................................................................13 Crown Profile ...........................................................................................14 Cusp S ize ..................................................................................................15 Cusp A rea................................................................................................ 15 Morphologic Traits ........................................................................................ 16 Cusp Number ........................................................................................... 16 Cusp Pattern Studies ............................................................................... 17 Tuherculum Sextum (C6) ........................................................................ 19 Tuberculum Intermedium (C7) .......................... 20 Protostylid ............................................................................................... 20 Crista Obliqua.........................................................................................21 Carabelli Complex.................................................................................. 21 Other Primates............................................................................................... 22 Modem Humans ............................................................................................ 26 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods ..................................................................................... 34 Definitions ......................................................................................................38 Maxillary Morphologic Features .................................................................. 39 Cusp Patterns.......................................................................................... 39 Carabelli Cusp........................................................................................ 40 Lingual Cingulum ................................................................................... 41 Metaconule .............................................................................................. 42 Paraconule...............................................................................................43 Paramolar................................................................................................43 111 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Page Mandibular Morphologic Features ....................................... 43 Cusp Patterns...........................................................................................43 Entoconulid ................................................................................. 46 Metaconulid ............................................................................................. 46 Protosylid .................................................................................................46 Statistical Analysis