Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo

J. F. Thackeray; C. L. Bellamy; D. Bellars; G. Bronner; L. Bronner; C. Chimimba; H. Fourie; A. Kemp; M. Kruger; I. Plug; S. Prinsloo; R. Toms; A. J. Van Zyl; M. J. Whiting

Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo

J. F. Thackeray^*, C. L. Bellamy, D. Bellars, G. Bronner, L. Bronner, C. Chimimba, H. Fourie, A. Kemp, M. Kruger, I. Plug, S. Prinsloo, R. Toms, A. J. Van Zyl, M. J. Whiting

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

A morphometric method of analysis is applied to specimens attributed to the same species, using museum collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. We demonstrate a central tendency of the log-transformed standard error of the m-coefficient (log(10) s.e.(m)), derived from linear regression analyses associated with equations of the form y = mx + c, when measurements of one specimen are compared against corresponding measurements of another specimen attributed to the same species. As indicated previously, this approach has potential application in palaeontological contexts where there is uncertainty about arty two specimens being conspecific. We recommend that s.e.(m) statistics be used in exploratory studies to quantify probabilities of conspecificity when any two hominid specimens are compared.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	195-196
Number of pages	2
Journal	South African Journal of Science
Volume	93
Publication status	Published - Apr 1997
Externally published	Yes

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Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

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Thackeray, J. F., Bellamy, C. L., Bellars, D., Bronner, G., Bronner, L., Chimimba, C., Fourie, H., Kemp, A., Kruger, M., Plug, I., Prinsloo, S., Toms, R., Van Zyl, A. J., & Whiting, M. J. (1997). Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo. South African Journal of Science, 93, 195-196.

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title = "Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo",

abstract = "A morphometric method of analysis is applied to specimens attributed to the same species, using museum collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. We demonstrate a central tendency of the log-transformed standard error of the m-coefficient (log(10) s.e.(m)), derived from linear regression analyses associated with equations of the form y = mx + c, when measurements of one specimen are compared against corresponding measurements of another specimen attributed to the same species. As indicated previously, this approach has potential application in palaeontological contexts where there is uncertainty about arty two specimens being conspecific. We recommend that s.e.(m) statistics be used in exploratory studies to quantify probabilities of conspecificity when any two hominid specimens are compared.",

author = "Thackeray, {J. F.} and Bellamy, {C. L.} and D. Bellars and G. Bronner and L. Bronner and C. Chimimba and H. Fourie and A. Kemp and M. Kruger and I. Plug and S. Prinsloo and R. Toms and {Van Zyl}, {A. J.} and Whiting, {M. J.}",

note = "Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher. ",

year = "1997",

month = apr,

language = "English",

volume = "93",

pages = "195--196",

journal = "South African Journal of Science",

issn = "0038-2353",

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Thackeray, JF, Bellamy, CL, Bellars, D, Bronner, G, Bronner, L, Chimimba, C, Fourie, H, Kemp, A, Kruger, M, Plug, I, Prinsloo, S, Toms, R, Van Zyl, AJ & Whiting, MJ 1997, 'Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo', South African Journal of Science, vol. 93, pp. 195-196.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Probabilities of conspecificity

T2 - application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo

AU - Thackeray, J. F.

AU - Bellamy, C. L.

AU - Bellars, D.

AU - Bronner, G.

AU - Bronner, L.

AU - Chimimba, C.

AU - Fourie, H.

AU - Kemp, A.

AU - Kruger, M.

AU - Plug, I.

AU - Prinsloo, S.

AU - Toms, R.

AU - Van Zyl, A. J.

AU - Whiting, M. J.

N1 - Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

PY - 1997/4

Y1 - 1997/4

N2 - A morphometric method of analysis is applied to specimens attributed to the same species, using museum collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. We demonstrate a central tendency of the log-transformed standard error of the m-coefficient (log(10) s.e.(m)), derived from linear regression analyses associated with equations of the form y = mx + c, when measurements of one specimen are compared against corresponding measurements of another specimen attributed to the same species. As indicated previously, this approach has potential application in palaeontological contexts where there is uncertainty about arty two specimens being conspecific. We recommend that s.e.(m) statistics be used in exploratory studies to quantify probabilities of conspecificity when any two hominid specimens are compared.

AB - A morphometric method of analysis is applied to specimens attributed to the same species, using museum collections of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. We demonstrate a central tendency of the log-transformed standard error of the m-coefficient (log(10) s.e.(m)), derived from linear regression analyses associated with equations of the form y = mx + c, when measurements of one specimen are compared against corresponding measurements of another specimen attributed to the same species. As indicated previously, this approach has potential application in palaeontological contexts where there is uncertainty about arty two specimens being conspecific. We recommend that s.e.(m) statistics be used in exploratory studies to quantify probabilities of conspecificity when any two hominid specimens are compared.

M3 - Article

SN - 0038-2353

VL - 93

SP - 195

EP - 196

JO - South African Journal of Science

JF - South African Journal of Science

ER -

Probabilities of conspecificity: application of a morphometric technique to modern taxa and fossil specimens attributed to Australopithecus and Homo

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