Reports
Program No.18-049
Data collection for morphological study of the dentino-enamel junction
and the enamel prism in Nacholapithecus
Daisuke Shimizu
16th Augst,2006 - 20th September,2006
Although detailed morphological studies of dentino-enamel
junction (DEJ) or enamel microstructure studies of East African Miocene
hominoids have not done yet, the DEJ morphology and enamel microstructure
are very important characters for phylogenetical and functional study of
fossils. Nacholapithecus is one of the Middle Miocene hominoid from
East Africa, and they had unique characters of mixture between apes and
monkeys. Investigation DEJ morphology and enamel microstructure of Nacholapithecus
might be very important for discussion of adaptive radiation of African
Miocene hominoids.
Successive cross-section images of East African Miocene hominoids'
molars stored at National Museum of Kenya were taken by pQCT (peripheral
quantitative computed tomography). Fifty-two specimens from 11 genuses, 17
species (i.e. Proconsul africanus [2], P. heseloni [3], P.
major [3], P. nyanzae [1], Afropithecus turkanensis [2],
Nacholapithecus kerioi [16], Equatorius africanus [2], Nyanzapithecus
harrisoni [3], N. pickfordi [1], Ranguwapithecus gordoni [2],
Dendropithecus macinnesi [3], Micropithecus clarki [1], M.
leakeyorum [3], Simiolus enjiessi [3], Limnopithecus evansi [4],
L. legetet [2], Kalepithecus songhorensis [1]) were used.
All of the specimens were upper second molar without any dentine patches.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of DEJ of these specimens will be created
in the Primate Research Institute.
Sixteen detailed moulds of molar broken surface of Nacholapithecus
kerioi were taken by extra-light viscosity dental silicon (PROVIL Novo
Light) to investigate enamel microstructure. And 21 detailed moulds of
wear facet of Nacholapithecus kerioi molars were taken as well to
investigate microwear. The casts will be made of these moulds and analyzed
in the Primate Research Institute.
National Museum of Kenya
It is expansion working now. On June 2007 it will reopen.
Fossils of human ancestors are kept in storage room (with staff)
At the back of Roehampton University, with a view of the biggest
park in the London, Richmond Park.
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