Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1988, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (01): 9-16、101.

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The reconstruction of the head of the female Lufeng Ape

Lu Qingwu, Zhao Zhongyi   

  • Online:1988-03-15 Published:1988-03-15

Abstract: The cervical part of vertebral column of the head portrait of the Lufeng ape is short, and it crosses the Frankfurt Horizontal at 50°. Its lateral contours, especially of the soft tissue of the concave . “nose -premaxilla” and the partial spherical premaxilla, are similar to those of the orang-utan.
The pronounced features of the physiognomy of the head of the Lufeng ape are broad interorbital region and mid-face. Besides, its nasal root and bridge are very low and flat.
The form of soft nose of the Lufeng ape is similar to that of the orang-utan on the basis of their similar piriform apertures. It belongs to the nose of ape-type. But the breadth of the alae nasi is narrower than that of the orang-utan. The antero-inferior parts of the base of alae nosi extend mesially like that of the gorilla. However, its alae nasi shows some hominid features, for example, the nostrils face slightly inferiorly, it projects somewhat laterally and its groove is little developed.
The form of snout and muscles of lip of the Lufeng ape are similar to those of the orang-utan. Each end of the mouth is situated in the place between the canine and the first premolar. The red lips are very thin, especially the upper one. The form, the trend, and the strength of the muscles of upper and lower lips resemble those of the orang-utan. It is possible that the Lufeng ape possesses und undivided levator muscle of upper lip and lacks expressional functions in drawing the alae nasi and its groove.
The soft tissues on the buccal aspect of the Lufeng ape are very thick and strong, and its masseter and buccinator are well developed.

Key words: Lufeng ape; Ramapithecus; Sivapithecus; Reconstruction of the head