Publications [#44872] of Todd R. Yokley

Papers Submitted

1. Yokley, T.R. "A reanalysis of Neandertal internal nasal morphology." Journal of Human Evolution  (in revision).
   (last updated on 2006/11/09)

   Abstract:
   Three aspects of internal nasal morphology have been claimed to represent Neandertal autapomorphies: 1) the presence of an internal nasal margin with a medial projection; 2) the medial expansion of the nasal cavity wall into the posterior portion of the nasal cavity; and 3) the lack of an ossified roof over the lacrimal groove (Schwartz & Tattersall, 1996). Despite widespread acceptance of these characters as Neandertal autapomorphies, the evidence for this claim is weakened by a number of methodological problems, the most notable being an extremely small sample size and insufficient attention to intraspecific variation. To assess variation in these three features, twelve Neandertals, eight early modern Europeans, and one-hundred-and-five recent humans were examined for the presence of each feature as defined by Schwartz and Tattersall. Internal nasal morphology was found to be highly variable within and between groups, such that the designation of these three characters as Neandertal autapomorphies appears unwarranted.