Dr. T. Tóth szerk.: Studia historico-anthropologica (Anthropologia Hungarica 21. Budapest, 1990)

ANTHROPOLOGIA HUNGARICA XXI. 1990 p. 11-24 Analysis of tooth morphotypes of Neogene Hominoids By L. KORDOS (Received June 28,1990) Abstract. In order to obtain a correct interpretation of the phylogenetic relations of Rudapithecus hungaricus from the Rudabánya locality (Hungary) 72 M

3 tooth morphotypes of Hominoids and Hominids from Africa, Europe and Asia were analyzed. The joint evaluation of five characteristics (cingulum, fovea anterior, extra conulus between the Med and End, and the End and Hid, and fovea posterior) have been accomplished. Similar morphotypes could be found with the African Early and Middle Miocene and the European Middle Miocene Great Apes. However, these differ from the Eurasian Turolian Hominoids which are similar with each other. Probably the method elaborated for the Hominoids cannot be directly applied for the Hominids. With 1 table and 4 figures. A fundamental problem of the Eurasian Hominoids' study is the African connection and the separation of Dryopithecus and Sivapithecus. Obtaining a better knowledge on the phylogenetical position of the Rudapithecus hungaricus of Rudabánya is also a part of these questions. The morphotype analysis of the teeth seems to be a useful method already widely applied in the Vertebrate micropaleontology. This study deals with the third lower molar because it has been suggested that the name Rudapithecus hungaricus is a synonym denomination for the Dryopithecus brancoi (KELLEY & PILBEAM 1986, BEGUN 1988). The holotype of the Dryopithecus brancoi is a left M

3 (BRANCO 1898). For this purpose the present author elaborated the method of analysis of M

3 between 1987-1990 and he applied it for the Neogene Hominoids available for him. The author wishes to express his thanks for the kind help of Professor BEGUN (Washington D.C. and Toronto), J. Franzen (Frankfurt am Main), R. Potts (Washington D.C), H. Tobien (Mainz) and A. Walker (Baltimore) who made it possible for him to visit their collections and to study the originals or casts. MORPHOLOGY OF M

3 The lower third molar is an antero-posteriorly elongated tooth (Rg. 1). On its anterior side a facette or concave surface develops when in contact with the second molar. It is generally narrow and no facette develops in posterior direction. The tooth is two-rooted. Three main cusps (Protoconid, Hypoconid and Hypoconulid) can be found on the buccal side while two (Metaconid, Entoconid) on the lingual side. On the anterior buccal side a cingulum may occur which is generally considered