Science

'Classic example' of sexual dimorphism in fossil record actually shows nuance between males and females

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Briefings

A recent study challenges the long-held view that Uintatheres exemplifies sexual dimorphism by revealing significant morphological differences between males and females. The fossil record shows that while both sexes were large and horned, females were significantly larger and possessed more robust canine teeth compared to males, suggesting a complex evolutionary divergence rather than simple sexual dimorphism.

Key points

• Uintatheres appeared approximately 58 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.
• Females were significantly larger than males, with notably more robust canine teeth compared to males.

Context and limitations

The study relies on a limited dataset of Uintatheres fossils, restricting the ability to generalize findings across the entire species.

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