Mechanical evidence that Australopithecus sediba was limited in its ability to eat hard foods

Justin A. Ledogar, Amanda L. Smith, Stefano Benazzi, Gerhard W. Weber, Mark A. Spencer, Keely B. Carlson, Kieran P. McNulty, Paul C. Dechow, Ian R. Grosse, Callum F. Ross, Brian G. Richmond, Barth W. Wright, Qian Wang, Craig Byron, Kristian J. Carlson, Darryl J. de Ruiter, Lee R. Berger, Kelli Tamvada, Leslie C. Pryor, Michael A. Berthaume and David S. Strait ()
Additional contact information
Justin A. Ledogar: University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, USA
Amanda L. Smith: University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, USA
Stefano Benazzi: University of Bologna
Gerhard W. Weber: University of Vienna
Mark A. Spencer: South Mountain Community College
Keely B. Carlson: Texas A&M University
Kieran P. McNulty: University of Minnesota
Paul C. Dechow: Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry
Ian R. Grosse: University of Massachusetts
Callum F. Ross: University of Chicago
Brian G. Richmond: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Barth W. Wright: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Qian Wang: Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry
Craig Byron: Mercer University
Kristian J. Carlson: Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
Darryl J. de Ruiter: Texas A&M University
Lee R. Berger: Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand
Kelli Tamvada: University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, USA
Leslie C. Pryor: Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry
Michael A. Berthaume: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
David S. Strait: University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222, USA

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Australopithecus sediba has been hypothesized to be a close relative of the genus Homo. Here we show that MH1, the type specimen of A. sediba, was not optimized to produce high molar bite force and appears to have been limited in its ability to consume foods that were mechanically challenging to eat. Dental microwear data have previously been interpreted as indicating that A. sediba consumed hard foods, so our findings illustrate that mechanical data are essential if one aims to reconstruct a relatively complete picture of feeding adaptations in extinct hominins. An implication of our study is that the key to understanding the origin of Homo lies in understanding how environmental changes disrupted gracile australopith niches. Resulting selection pressures led to changes in diet and dietary adaption that set the stage for the emergence of our genus.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10596

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