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Hominins do not share a common postnatal facial ontogenetic shape trajectory
1Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, United Kingdom, HU6 7RX. sam.cobb@hyms.ac.uk
Summary
Facial shape differences between hominins are largely established before birth. However, significant postnatal facial development divergences occur within modern humans, with limited data on fossil hominins like Australopithecus africanus.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Recent studies propose parallel postnatal facial shape changes in chimpanzees, humans, and fossil hominins (australopithecines, Neanderthals).
- Contrasting research highlights divergences in postnatal shape trajectories within primate groups, creating debate on pre- and postnatal ontogeny's role in adult morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve debates on facial shape evolution by examining hominin facial ontogeny.
- To investigate the contributions of prenatal and postnatal development to adult facial morphology differences.
Main Methods:
- Utilized geometric morphometric studies to analyze facial shape ontogeny in hominins.
- Compared developmental trajectories of facial skeletons across different hominin species and extant primates.
Main Results:
- Many facial shape differences among hominins are established during prenatal development.
- Significant divergences in postnatal facial ontogeny were identified within living hominins.
- Potential differences observed between Australopithecus africanus, African apes, and humans, but sample size limits conclusions.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal development plays a major role in establishing hominin facial shape differences.
- Postnatal ontogeny shows significant divergence within modern humans.
- Insufficient A. africanus fossil evidence prevents definitive conclusions on its comparative facial ontogeny.