Wild chimpanzee dentition and its implications for assessing life history in immature hominin fossils

Abstract

Data from three African field sites on Pan troglodytes demonstrate an unambiguous pattern of a slower growth rate in wild vs. captive chimpanzee populations. A revised dental growth chronology for chimpanzees is similar to estimated timing of Homo erectus and therefore has implications for interpreting life history in hominins.

Fig. 1.

Females 3.8 years of age (Left) and 8.3 years of age (Right). Note the M1 just cresting the alveolar margin in the 3.8-year-old female. In the 8.3-year-old female, note the left I2 just cresting the alveolar margin and the right I2 and the M2 partial emergence.