A 3-dimensional assessment of molar enamel thickness and distribution pattern in Gigantopithecus blacki
A 3-dimensional assessment of molar enamel thickness and distribution pattern in Gigantopithecus blacki
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DOI：
10.1016/j.quaint.2014.02.012
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发表时间：
2014-12-15
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Suwa, Gen
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kono, Reiko T.;Zhang, Yingqi;Suwa, Gen
为了解黑猩猩磨牙釉质厚度及其分布，对2颗上颌磨牙和3颗下颌磨牙进行显微CT扫描，数字化重建釉质冠冠的三维形态。结果表明，黑磨牙牙釉质很厚，有的超过6 mm。相对于冠部大小，整个牙冠的3D平均厚度与现代智人相当，并且比非常厚的釉质坚固的南方古猿要薄。牙齿的耐久性，以牙釉质体积相对于牙冠最大水平面积计算，被证明与包括南方古猿在内的化石原始人的耐久性相当。黑磨牙的厚牙釉质被发现伴随着颊舌向倾斜，在“功能”侧的尖端出现较厚的釉质。这与牙冠“功能”侧较高的牙冠高度有关，并暗示着对不同的口腔语言磨损的适应。这些结果表明，黑磨牙适应了重磨损，但可能是以一种不同于上新世和更新世人类的方式。(C)2014年爱思唯尔有限公司和INQUA。版权所有。
In order to investigate molar enamel thickness and distribution in Gigantopithecus blacki, two maxillary and three mandibular molars were micro-CT scanned, and the 3-dimensional (3D) shape of the enamel crown cap was digitally reconstructed. Results show that G. blacki molars have very thick enamel, over 6 mm in places. 3D average thickness of the entire crown relative to crown size was shown to be comparable to that of modern Homo sapiens, and thinner than in the very thick enameled robust Australopithecus condition. Durability of the tooth, calculated as the enamel volume relative to maximum horizontal area of the crown, was shown to be comparable to that of fossil hominids, including Australopithecus robustus. The thick occlusal enamel of G. blacki molars was found to be accompanied by a buccolingual gradient in which thicker enamel occurs on the cusps of the "functional" side. This is associated with higher crown height on the "functional" side of the crown, and implies an adaptation to differential buccolingual wear. These results indicate that G. blacki molars were adapted to heavy wear, but probably in a manner that was different from Pliocene and Pleistocene hominids. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.