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Neanderthal cranial ontogeny and its implications for late hominid diversity

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  • Marcia S. Ponce de León

    (Anthropologisches Institut and Institut für Informatik/MultiMedia Laboratorium Universität Zürich-Irchel)

  • Christoph P. E. Zollikofer

    (Anthropologisches Institut and Institut für Informatik/MultiMedia Laboratorium Universität Zürich-Irchel)

Abstract

Homo neanderthalensis has a unique combination of craniofacial features that are distinct from fossil and extant ‘anatomically modern’ Homo sapiens (modern humans). Morphological evidence, direct isotopic dates1 and fossil mitochondrial DNA from three Neanderthals2,3 indicate that the Neanderthals were a separate evolutionary lineage for at least 500,000 yr. However, it is unknown when and how Neanderthal craniofacial autapomorphies (unique, derived characters) emerged during ontogeny. Here we use computerized fossil reconstruction4 and geometric morphometrics5,6 to show that characteristic differences in cranial and mandibular shape between Neanderthals and modern humans arose very early during development, possibly prenatally, and were maintained throughout postnatal ontogeny. Postnatal differences in cranial ontogeny between the two taxa are characterized primarily by heterochronic modifications of a common spatial pattern of development. Evidence for early ontogenetic divergence together with evolutionary stasis of taxon-specific patterns of ontogeny is consistent with separation of Neanderthals and modern humans at the species level.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcia S. Ponce de León & Christoph P. E. Zollikofer, 2001. "Neanderthal cranial ontogeny and its implications for late hominid diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 412(6846), pages 534-538, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:412:y:2001:i:6846:d:10.1038_35087573
    DOI: 10.1038/35087573
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Francisco Reinoso-Gordo & Deborah Barsky & Alexia Serrano-Ramos & José Antonio Solano-García & Carlos Alberto León-Robles & Carmen Luzón-González & Stefania Titton & Juan Manuel Jiménez-Arenas, 2020. "Walking among Mammoths. Remote Sensing and Virtual Reality Supporting the Study and Dissemination of Pleistocene Archaeological Sites: The Case of Fuente Nueva 3 in Orce, Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, June.

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