ANT331H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Canine Tooth, Turkana Boy, Homininae
Document Summary
Four avenues of evidence into the sexual behaviors of hominins. 1. the application of the general principles of sexual selection to the fossil record. Differences in traits between sexes of the same species: body size. Sexual dimorphism difference in size between males and females of the same species. When males tend to be significantly larger than females, this usually represents male-to-male direct competition: dentition canine size. In many living primates, the canines of adult males are significantly larger than females. Sex dimorphism is related to male to male competition. Compete for access to fertile females: when there is a large amount of sexual dimorphism, they fight it out. It is worth it because they get exclusive access to fertile females. Females cluster during breeding season around food resources. Males compete for exclusive access to a harem of females. Indirect male to male competition: there is little sexual dimorphism. Females are dispersed: out of range from each other.
