y2016m01b25
20160201095000
assa
nadine@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
0038-2353
1996-7489
02012016
Volume 112
Number 1/2
Australopithecus robustus societies – one-male or multimale?
English
Katarzyna A.
Kaszycka
Department of Human Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Anthropology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
Abstract
Determining the sex of individual specimens is important in estimating the degree of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism, in turn, provides clues for reconstructing the social organisation and mating systems of extinct species. In an article published in Science, Lockwood et al. (Lockwood CA, Menter CG, Moggi-Cecchi J, Keyser AW. Extended male growth in a fossil hominin species. Science. 2007;318:1443–1446.) suggested an uneven sex ratio (in favour of males) for the known individuals of the South African Pleistocene hominid, Australopithecus robustus, and claimed evidence of an extended period of growth (delayed maturity) for the males of this species. They concluded that this finding, combined with estimates of sexual size dimorphism, suggests a polygynous reproductive strategy, and a social system similar to that of silverback gorillas (i.e. one-male harems). On re-examination of these claims, and based on further analysis, I agree with Lockwood et al. that morphologically A. robustus exhibits an increased (almost gorilla-like) level of facial dimorphism, but propose using an alternate (clustering) technique for grouping the specimens of highly dimorphic species into sexes, and argue that their pronouncements regarding a polygynous social structure of these early hominids are inconclusive. I contend instead that the habitat occupied by this species suggests rather that a one-male harem social structure would have been counterproductive.
02012016
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/
10.17159/sajs.2016/20150165
20160201095000
http://www.sajs.co.za/australopithecus-robustus-societies-%E2%80%93-one-male-or-multimale/katarzyna-kaszycka
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS%20112_1-2_Kaszycka_Research%20Article.pdf