The DNH 7 skull of Australopithecus robustus from Drimolen (Main Quarry), South Africa

Yoel Rak, William H. Kimbel*, Jacopo Moggi-Cecchi, Charles A. Lockwood, Colin Menter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although the early hominin species Australopithecus robustus has been known for more than eight decades and is represented by hundreds of fossils from sites in South Africa, a complete, well-preserved skull has been elusive. DNH 7, an adult cranium and mandible from the Drimolen site, was identified, on the basis of its small size, as a presumptive female of A. robustus. Here, we provide a detailed comparative description of the specimen. In cranial, facial, and dental size, DNH 7 is confirmed to lie at the extreme small end of the A. robustus range of variation, along with a few fragmentary maxillofacial specimens from Swartkrans. In addition, relative to the classically derived craniofacial features of the Swartkrans+Kromdraai portions of the A. robustus hypodigm, primitive anatomy pervades the DNH 7 face, braincase, and cranial base. Taken together, these pieces of evidence place DNH 7 in a previously unfilled position on the robust Australopithecus morphocline, where the specimen highlights the morphological distinctions between southern and eastern African species of this group and epitomizes the anatomy expected of the group's last common ancestor.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102913
JournalJournal of Human Evolution
Volume151
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

Funding

FundersFunder number
Institute of Human Origins
Arizona State University

    Keywords

    • Australopithecus
    • Hominin
    • Morphocline
    • Paranthropus
    • Sexual dimorphism

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