Sexual Dimorphism in the Hominin Lineage

Modern humans are unique among primates because of their monogamous mating system and a unique morphological variation from their closest living relatives, the great apes. These differences raise questions regarding how and when modern humans became relatively monomorphic and evolved their social system. Sexual dimorphism in the hominin fossil record provides insight into these questions by providing evidence that is germane to human evolution. This review summarizes the scientific literature on sexual dimorphism in the hominin fossil record, first through a brief history of scientific research and evolutionary theory. Several significant arguments follow, including sexual dimorphism and behavior, morphological variation, taxonomy, and life history in fossil species, but the body of this work examines hominin morphological evidence and exhibited patterns of variation. Statistical analysis is employed to illustrate one approach from the literature and to elaborate on conclusions of morphology and sexual dimorphism in the human lineage. Understanding the expression and covariates of primate sexual dimorphism can provide pertinent information about social behavior, ecology, and growth patterns in the hominin fossil record. This comparative framework of diet, habitat, morphology, and living social systems can be used to interpret the morphological variation in human evolution.

Author

• Bernal, Kallista

Language

• en

Keyword

• sexual dimorphism
• great apes
• behavior
• evolution
• human

Date created

• 2013

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Hominid Paleobiology

Degree

• M.S.

Advisor

• Wood, Bernard A
• Sherwood, Chester

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/m039k510c