Note: Intro -- The Paleobiology of Australopithecus -- Preface -- Contents -- Contributors -- 1 Introduction: Issues in the Life and Times of Australopithecus -- Abstract -- References -- Part I Geological and Paleontological Context -- 2 Age Ranges of Australopithecus Species, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Pliocene Formations of the Omo-Turkana Basin (the Omo Group) -- Shungura Formation -- Usno Formation -- Koobi Fora Formation -- Kanapoi Formation and Nachukui Formation -- Pliocene Formations in EthiopiaEthiopia Outside the Omo-Turkana Basin -- Sagantole Formation -- Hadar Formation -- Bouri Formation -- Laetolil Beds -- Temporal Distribution of Australopithecus Species -- Australopithecus anamensis -- Australopithecus afarensis -- Australopithecus bahrelghazali -- Australopithecus garhi -- Kenyanthropus platyops -- Australopithecus/Homo gen. et sp. indet -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 3 A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective on the Age of AustralopithecusAustralopithecus in Southern AfricaAfrica -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The Sites -- Sterkfontein -- Makapansgat -- Gladysvale -- Taung -- Malapa -- Discussion and Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 4 Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Questions About Australopithecus Paleoecology -- What We Know: The Basics -- Documented Depositional Contexts for Australopithecus -- Scales and Types of Evidence for Australopithecus EcologyEcology -- Paleoenvironments, Taphonomic Biases and Research Strategies -- Two Examples of Site-Based Studies of Australopithecus Habitats -- Kanapoi -- Hadar A.L. 333: Environmental Context of the ''First Family'' Locality -- Using Faunas to Infer Hominin Habitats. , Paleoecological Evidence and Current Interpretations of Australopithecus Sites -- Sites with Hominins of Uncertain Taxonomic Assignment -- A. bahrelghazali -- A. anamensis -- A. afarensis -- Australopithecus or Paranthropus aethiopicus -- A. africanus -- A. sediba -- Kenyanthropus platyops -- A. garhi -- Discussion: Australopithecus Paleoecology -- Habitats -- Diet and Food Procurement -- Conclusion and Future Research -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part II Sites and Species -- 5 Australopithecus in Ethiopia -- Abstract -- The Genus Australopithecus -- Questions About the Genus -- The Three Species -- Australopithecus anamensis -- Questions About A. anamensisAustralopithecusA. anamensis -- Australopithecus afarensis -- Questions About A. afarensisAustralopithecusA. afarensis -- Australopithecus garhi -- Questions About A. garhiAustralopithecusA. garhi -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 6 The Alpha Taxonomy of Australopithecus africanus -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The Status of Australopithecus africanus -- Australopithecus africanus: A Taxonomic History -- Sexual Dimorphism and Species Identification -- Does the Australopithecus africanus HypodigmHypodigm Subsume Two or More Species? -- Cranial Variation in the Sterkfontein Type Site Assemblage -- STET and Cranial Variation in the Sterkfontein Type Site Assemblage -- Dental Variation in the Australopithecus africanus HypodigmHypodigm -- Taxonomic Absurdity at Sterkfontein and Makapansgat -- Other Sterkfontein Australopith Fossils: Silberberg GrottoSterkfonteinSilberberg Grotto and Jacovec Cavern -- Stw 573 from the Silberberg GrottoSterkfonteinSilberberg Grotto -- Stw 578 from Jacovec Cavern -- The Postcranial Remains from Sterkfontein -- Australopithecus or Homo? -- Member 4, Member 5, and TaxonomyTaxonomy at Sterkfontein -- Sts 17 -- Sts 19 -- Stw 53 -- Stw 151. , Towards a Resolution: Some New Approaches -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 7 Australopithecus from Sterkfontein Caves, South Africa -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Member 4 -- Member 4 Postcranial Fossils -- Member 2 -- Jacovec Cavern -- Dating -- Paleoenvironment -- Taphonomy -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 8 Variation in Mandibular Postcanine Dental Morphology and Hominin Species Representation in Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Taxonomic Homogeneity of the Sterkfontein Member 4MakaMakapansgat LimeworksMember 4 Hominin Assemblage -- Cusp Proportions and TaxonomyTaxonomy -- Materials and Methods -- Dental Variables -- Statistical Evaluation of Variation -- Results -- Mandibular Third Premolar -- Mandibular Fourth Premolar -- Mandibular First Molar -- Mandibular Second Molar -- Mandibular Third Molar -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 9 Australopithecus sediba from Malapa, South Africa -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Geology and Dating of the Site -- The Fossil Hominin Sample from Malapa -- Australopithecus sediba -- The Status of Stw 53 -- The Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Status of Australopithecus sediba -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part III Biogeography -- 10 Comparative Evolutionary Models and the ''Australopith Radiations'' -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The Australopiths -- Anagenesis and CladogenesisCladogenesis -- Is There an Australopith Radiation? -- Missing Australopiths and Adaptive Asymmetry -- A Dispersal Model -- Emerging Problems: Scale -- Discussion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 11 Whence Australopithecus africanus? Comparing the Skulls of South African and East African Australopithecus -- Abstract -- Introduction -- How Much Change? -- Picking Apart the Eastern African ''Lineage'' -- The Fate of A. africanus. , What Can Be Known? -- There and Back Again: Models of Early Hominin Biogeography Pertaining to A. africanus -- Summary -- Addendum -- References -- 12 The Biogeographic Implications of Early Hominin Phylogeny -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results -- Dispersals -- Major Evolutionary Events -- Discussion -- Biogeographic Implications of Alternative Phylogenies -- Adaptive Scenarios Explaining Biogeographic Patterns -- Future Directions -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Part IV Paleobiology -- 13 Sexual Size Dimorphism in Australopithecus: Current Understanding and New Directions -- Abstract -- Sexual Selection and SexualDimorphismsexual Dimorphism -- Natural Selection and SexualDimorphismsexual Dimorphism -- Evaluating the Relative Effects of SexualDimorphismsexual and Natural Selection on SexualDimorphismsexual Dimorphism in Living PrimatesPrimates -- Sexual Dimorphism in Extinct Taxa -- Studies of SexualDimorphismsexual Dimorphism/Relative Size Variation in Australopithecus -- Improving Measures of Relative Size Variation in Australopithecus -- New Techniques for Improving HypodigmHypodigm Representation -- Template Methods -- Resampled Geometric MeanGeometric mean Methods -- Improving Understanding of the Relationship Between Mass Dimorphism and Skeletal Dimorphism -- Applying New Methods to Other Species -- Dimorphism in ArdipithecusArdipithecus ramidus -- Ardi or Artie? Sex Assessment in ARA-VP-6/500ARA (Aramis, Middle Awash, Ethiopia)ARA-VP-6/500 -- Canine Size, Canine Dimorphism, and Body SizeBody size Dimorphism: Implications for Understanding Evolutionary Pressures on Large-Bodied Hominoids in the Early Pliocene -- The Biological Significance of SexualDimorphismsexual Dimorphism in Australopithecus -- References. , 14 Molar Microwear, Diet and Adaptation in a Purported Hominin Species Lineage from the Pliocene of East Africa -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 15 Some Ruminations on Australopith Diets -- Abstract -- Introduction -- A Stroll Through Some Previous Research -- Australopithecus -- Paranthropus -- Why the Australopith Masticatory Complex? -- Earlier Hominins -- Wild Surmises and Closing Thoughts -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 16 Postural and Locomotor Adaptations of Australopithecus Species -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Evidence for Bipedality -- Arboreality and AdaptationAdaptation -- Variation Among Australopithecus Species -- Summary and Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 17 Shoulder Morphology in Early Hominin Evolution -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Pectoral Girdle/Shoulder Morphology -- Clavicle -- Scapula -- Humerus -- Overview of Early Hominin Shoulder Morphology -- Discussion -- References -- 18 Age and Sex Differences in the Locomotor Skeleton of Australopithecus -- Abstract -- Introduction -- The Role of OntogenyOntogeny in Producing Skeletal Morphology -- Cranial and Dental Evidence for Growth Pace in Australopithecus -- Postcranial OntogenyOntogeny and Phenotypic PlasticityPhenotypic plasticity in Australopithecus -- Genetically Mediated Australopithecus Morphology and Evolution of Developmental Programs -- Conclusion -- Addendum -- References -- Subject Index.

Note: Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Part 1: Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment -- 1. Faunal Approaches in Early Hominin Paleoecology -- 2. Facies Analysis and Plio-Pleistocene Paleoecology -- 3. East African HomininPaleoecology -- 4. Tectonics, Orbital Forcing, Global Climate Change, and Human Evolution in Africa -- Part 2: Hominin Adaptations and Behavior -- 5. Early Hominin Postureand Locomotion -- 6. The Functional Morphology of Jaws and Teeth -- 7. Dental Microwear and Paleoecology -- 8. Hominin Ecology from Hard-Tissue Biogeochemistry -- 9. The Behavior of Plio-Pleistocene Hominins -- Part 3: Analogies and Models -- 10. Plants and Protopeople -- 11. Chimpanzee Models of Human Behavioral Evolution -- 12. Analogies and Models in the Study of the Early Hominins -- Contributors -- Index.