Paleobiological Implications of the Ardipithecus ramidus Dentition

摘要

Teeth are highly resilient to degradation and therefore are the most abundant specimens in the primate fossil record. The size, shape, enamel thickness, and isotopic composition of teeth provide a wealth of information about phylogeny, diet, and social behavior. Ardipithecus ramidus was originally defined in 1994 primarily on the basis of recovered teeth, but the sample size was small, limiting comparison to other primate fossils.