Late Miocene Teeth from Middle Awash, Ethiopia, and Early Hominid Dental Evolution

Abstract

Late Miocene fossil hominid teeth recovered from Ethiopia's Middle Awash are assigned to Ardipithecus kadabba . Their primitive morphology and wear pattern demonstrate that A. kadabba is distinct from Ardipithecus ramidus . These fossils suggest that the last common ancestor of apes and humans had a functionally honing canine–third premolar complex. Comparison with teeth of Sahelanthropus and Orrorin , the two other named late Miocene hominid genera, implies that these putative taxa are very similar to A. kadabba . It is therefore premature to posit extensive late Miocene hominid diversity on the basis of currently available samples.