Abstract: Perikymata counts can provide helpful information on dental development. Here, we observed perikymata counts of 30 anterior teeth of Lufengpithecus lufengensis from China by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM Hitachi S-3700) and a Keyence VHX-600EOS digital microscope, and estimated crown formation times of incisors and canines respectively using seven and nine day periodicity of the Retzius line. The results can be generally concluded as following: When using period of seven days, the crown formation time of I1, I2 and C were about 3.6-4.1 years, 2.7-3.7 years and 4.2-7.0 years respectively; when using period of nine days, the crown formation time of the three tooth types were 4.4-5.2 years, 3.4-4.7 years and 5.2-8.8 years. In order to investigate whether there is significantly difference in tooth type and sexual dimorphism, we applied statistical tests on crown formation times of incisors and canines. The results are as follows: 1) there is no significant difference in crown formation time between upper and lower teeth of both incisors and canines; 2) significant sexual dimorphism in the crown formation time exists for lateral incisors and canines, but not for central incisors; 3) crown formation time of canines is significantly longer than both central and lateral incisors; 4) there is a highly significant positive correlation between crown height with crown formation time of anterior teeth. Finally, compared with some fossil large apes, Australopithecus, Paranthropus, early Homo, Homo sapiens and extant great apes, crown formation time of Lufengpithecus lufengensis is much longer than Proconsul, Australopithecus, Paranthropus and Homo, but shorter than Pan, Pongo and fossil Pongo from south China, and closer to Lufengpithecus hudienensis and Gorilla..

Key words: Lufengpithecus lufengensis; Anterior teeth; Perikymata; Crown formation time