Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in hominin evolution has been a topic of continuous interest and debate ever since Darwin, not only because it offers insights into the evolution of human behavior but also because it confounds species recognition. Dimorphism is a complex phenomenon and is difficult to estimate in the fossil record. The fossil record suggests that the earliest known hominin—Ardipithecus ramidus—showed little size or canine dimorphism. Later australopithecines show modest to strong dimorphism, with dimorphism approaching modern human levels inHomo erectusandHomo heidelbergensis. Behavioral inferences based on dimorphism are uncertain, but strong dimorphism inAustralopithecussuggests polygynous mating, with strong male competition. Changes in dimorphism and body size suggest changes in female life history and associated patterns of male competition. Finally, the reevolution of dimorphism in hominins suggests that the modern human condition is derived and not inherited from the common ancestor ofHomoandPan.
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