Analytical research on molar morphology of Asian and African fossil primates

本项目旨在通过利用微焦点X射线计算机断层扫描数据进行三维数字形态分析来研究亚洲灵长类化石，特别是猿类的牙齿形态。最近，在中国研究人员的努力下，中国南部已灭绝的大型猿类巨猿的标本数量大幅增加。对这些新标本和原来已知的标本进行了观察，并对其中一些进行了微型CT扫描。巨猿的磨牙被显示为厚釉，特别是在尖牙区周围，这种模式与另一种厚釉化石物种如健壮的南方古猿略有不同。

This project aimed to investigate dental morphology of Asian fossil primates, especially the apes, by means of 3-dimensional digital morphological analysis using micro-focus X-ray computed tomographic data. Recently, the specimen number of Gigantopithecus, the extinct large ape from south China, has been greatly increased through the effort of Chinese researchers. These new specimens as well as originally known ones were observed, and some of these were micro-CT scanned. The molars of Gigantopithecus were shown to be thickly-enamelled, especially at around the cuspal region, a pattern somewhat different from that of another thick-enamelled fossil species such as robust Australopithecus.