Dissertation Research: Sexual Dimorphism in the Catarrhine Teeth

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The primary objective of this research is to understand the reasons for sexual dimorphism of canine teeth in the catarrhine primates. The goal will be approached by collecting tooth size measurements for a large body of primates. Large samples of males and females for each species will be obtained to allow a thorough documentation of variation of sexual dimorphism, allowing comparisons of sexual dimorphism at all taxonomic levels within the anthropoid primates. The effects of body size, body size dimorphism and phylogeny on the expression of sexual dimorphism will be carefully studied. Scientists disagree as to the cause of canine reduction and the associated reduction sexual dimorphism in the canine teeth of the human lineage. This research will test several hypotheses, such as whether patterns of sexual dimorphism result from unequal division of labor between male and female primate, or whether small object feeding has caused canine reduction in association with incisal reduction to allow more efficient jaw movements.