300433 VO Pliozäne Hominina: Australopithecus and Paranthropus (2007W)

After a short discussion of the comparative morphology of modern Hominoids and Homo, we will cover the different members of the genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus. After this systematic overview, questions of functional interpretations of morphology will be addressed. Finally, the problems of using traits that are especially prone to homoplasy (e.g. traits of the masticatory system), for reconstructing phylogeny will be highlighted.