An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene locality of Çorakyerler (central Anatolia) are recognized as a new species of Ouranopithecus, one of the rare western Eurasian hominoids to have survived well into the late Miocene. This species is distinguished from its sister taxon, and likely ancestor Ouranopithecus macedoniensis, by a constellation of dentognathic features. The new species, in which the male postcanine dentition is larger than that of any other Miocene ape besides Gigantopithecus, is associated with evidence indicating an open, dry environment. Dental features of Ouranopithecus apparently evolved in parallel with later Australopithecus, and suggest that Ouranopithecus was adapted to a diet of tough/abrasive foods.

The fossa navicularis is a relatively rare anatomic variation of the skull base. Awareness of its existence will avoid misinterpretations of radiological images and unnecessary investigations. This study describes the appearance of the fossa navicularis, and investigates its incidence and whether it is related to pathology at the basiocciput. We studied 492 dry human skulls and 525 computer tomography (CT) images of patients. Dry skulls showing a fossa navicularis were investigated by CT scan, whereas patients identified as having a fossa navicularis were further examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To document the position of the fossa more precisely, measurements were made between the fossa navicularis and certain anatomic landmarks such as the foramen ovale, the pharyngeal tubercle, the posterior border of the vomer, the foramen lacerum, the carotid canal, and the occipital condyle. Upon examination, 26 of 492 skulls (5.3%) were found to have a fossa navicularis. Twelve were <2 mm in depth and the other 14 had a depth of >/=2 mm. Of the 525 patients, 16 (3.0%) were identified as having a fossa navicularis in CT images. Evaluation of MRIs showed no soft tissue lesions in any of these patients. Comprehensive anatomic details of the fossa navicularis have not been reported in the literature. The results of this study may be useful to radiologists, anatomists, and surgeons interested in the skull base.

In this study, a total of 302 adult Anatolian-Ottoman skulls were classified into three morphological forms (dolichocephalic, mesocephalic, brachycephalic), and were examined in order to find the incidence of sutural bones in each forms. In addition, the cranial capacity was measured in the skulls with and without sutural bones. Comparison of the incidence of sutural bones in each form of the skulls, and cranial capacity in skulls with and without sutural bones showed no significant difference. In most populations, the average measure of difference between AnatolianOttoman and the others was statistically significant. In conclusion, the incidence of sutural bones is well suited for comperative studies as an anthropological marker or an indicator of population distance.

Since it covers the lateral wall of the mastoid air system, the suprameatal triangle is of importance to otologic surgeons during mastoidectomy. Because of this clinical importance, topographic anatomy of the suprameatal spine and depression was studied on Anatolian skulls. In all, 363 male and 231 female skulls were studied. The most prevalent type of suprameatal spine resembled a crest and was found in both sexes on the right (77.6%) and left (80%) sides. The absence of a suprameatal depression was significantly higher in females (right 9.1%; left 8.7%) than in males (right 1.7%; left 2.5%). Suprameatal depressions were mostly shallow in female subjects, but were mostly observed in males to be at a medium depth or deep.

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