Occipital Condyle Development in Extant Hominids and Australopithecus afarensis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Variation in the position and orientation of the occipital condyles is well documented in hominids and has been linked to differences in positional behavior, especially upright posture in bipedal hominins. Less is known about the curvature of the condylar joint surfaces. This study examines the ontogeny of condylar curvature in extant hominids and Australopithecus afarensis.

Materials and methods

Condylar curvature was quantified in 147 chimpanzees, gorillas, humans, orangutans, and five specimens of A. afarensis. Specimens were grouped into juvenile, adolescent, and adult dental age categories. We used resampling methods to test for differences among age groups within genera, and among genera at each developmental stage. We also recorded the timing of fusion of t

SUBMITTER: Grider-Potter N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12183541 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature