LAB 9: AUSTRALOPITH DIETToday’s Goals• Learn about the cranial differences between the robust Parant hropus and the gracile Australopithecus.Remember: the postcranial adaptations for both australopiths are the same!• Investigate the dietary adaptations of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, Australopithecus, and Paranthropus.• Reconstruct the diets of Australopithecus and Paranthropus using the living primates as analogs.What do chimpanzees eat?What do gorillas eat?What do humans eat?How to measure teeth•Compare the size of the anterior dentition to the posterior dentition• Are the incisors larger or smaller than the molars?Mesiodistal Length of I1Buccolingual Breadth of M2How to measure teethPalate BreadthRelative MeasurementsRelative Enamel ThicknessApe Dietary AdaptationsCHEWINGMORELESS• Large muscle attachments• Small muscle attachmentsLEAVES HARDFRUITS• Single- or double cusped premolars• Tall & pointy cusps• Thinner enamel than frugivores• Orthognathic face• Molariform premolars• Rounded cusps• Very thick enamel• Prognathic face• Procumbent incisors• Rounded and short cusps• Thicker enamel than folivoresCOOKED• Orthognathic face• Small cheek
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