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The Paleobiology of Australopithecus

  • Book
  • © 2013

Overview

Editors:
  1. Kaye E. Reed

    1. Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

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  2. John G. Fleagle

    1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, USA

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  3. Richard E. Leakey

    1. Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA

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  • Focuses on understanding the palaeoanthropology of a particular genus, Australopithecus
  • Synthesizes information on the genus Australopithecus
  • Discusses alpha taxonomy, adaptive radiations, adaptations, phylogeny, biogeography, and paleoecology of the various species ?
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology (VERT)

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. Introduction: Issues in the Life and Times of Australopithecus

    • Kaye E. Reed
    Pages 1-3

  3. Geological and Paleontological Context

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 5-6
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    2. Age Ranges of Australopithecus Species, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania

      • Francis H. Brown, Ian McDougall, Patrick N. Gathogo
      Pages 7-20

    3. A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective on the Age of Australopithecus in Southern Africa

      • Andy I. R. Herries, Robyn Pickering, Justin W. Adams, Darren Curnoe, Ginette Warr, Alf G. Latham et al.
      Pages 21-40

    4. Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas

      • Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Kaye E. Reed
      Pages 41-60

  4. Sites and Species

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 61-62
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    2. Australopithecus in Ethiopia

      • Zeresenay Alemseged
      Pages 63-71

    3. The Alpha Taxonomy of Australopithecus africanus

      • Frederick E. Grine
      Pages 73-104

    4. Australopithecus from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa

      • Ronald Clarke
      Pages 105-123

    5. Variation in Mandibular Postcanine Dental Morphology and Hominin Species Representation in Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa

      • Frederick E. Grine, Marcia M. Delanty, Bernard A. Wood
      Pages 125-146

    6. Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa

      • Darryl J. de Ruiter, Steven E. Churchill, Lee R. Berger
      Pages 147-160

  6. Paleobiology

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 193-194
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    2. Sexual Size Dimorphism in Australopithecus: Current Understanding and New Directions

      • Adam D. Gordon
      Pages 195-212

    3. Molar Microwear, Diet and Adaptation in a Purported Hominin Species Lineage from the Pliocene of East Africa

      • Frederick E. Grine, Peter S. Ungar, Mark F. Teaford, Sireen El-Zaatari
      Pages 213-223

    4. Some Ruminations on Australopith Diets

      • Matt Sponheimer
      Pages 225-233
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Keywords

About this book

Australopithecus species have been the topic of much debate in palaeoanthropology since Raymond Dart described the first species, Australopithecus africanus, in 1925. This volume synthesizes the geological and paleontological context of the species in East and South Africa; covers individual sites, such as Dikika, Hadar, Sterkfontein, and Malapa; debates the alpha taxonomy of some of the species; and addresses questions regarding the movements of the species across the continent. Additional chapters discuss the genus in terms of sexual dimorphism, diet reconstruction using microwear and isotopic methodologies, postural and locomotor behavior, and ontogeny. 

Editors and Affiliations

  • Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA

    Kaye E. Reed

  • Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, USA

    John G. Fleagle

  • Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA

    Richard E. Leakey

About the editors

Kaye Reed focuses on community ecology to understand the framework of Pliocene hominin evolution and the interactions of living primates. She is currently exploring how changing environments affect Australopithecus evolution in Ethiopia. She also conducts research in South Africa to understand hominin landscape use along the west coast.

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