Figure 7 | Scientific Reports

Figure 7

From: Growth and development of the third permanent molar in Paranthropus robustus from Swartkrans, South Africa

Figure 7

Increase in cumulative tooth length against tooth formation time. The plot shows increasing distance along the EDJ/CDJ (µm) against formation time (years) for a sample of modern human molars (M2, n = 8; M3, n = 8; blue open circles), Pan M3s (n = 10; green half-filled circles) and Gorilla (M1, n = 2; M2, n = 2; M3, n = 2; red open circles), data from9,75. Superimposed onto these extant taxa are SK 835 (black filled circles) and an M1, S7-37 from Java, attributed to H. erectus, (dark blue filled circles), data from70,75. Increase in crown height along the EDJ in SK 835 overlaps with some modern humans and some Gorilla specimens. However, root growth in SK 835, that begins at 2.59 years, stands out as faster than all but a few Gorilla M2s and M3s. Despite having considerably longer roots than, for example the H. erectus M1 root, completion in these two contrasting fossil molars occurs at approximately the same time in ~ 7 years from tooth initiation since rates of root extension are faster in SK 835.

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