Possible position of the temporal lines on the cranium of 'Mrs' Ples (A-africanus): is sexual determination possible?

The cranium and associated matrix of Sts 5, a cranium of Australopithecus a fricanus is re-examined in the context of an unfused sagittal suture and th e position of the temporal lines. These lines are not developed as a sagitt al crest although they are close to the mid-sagittal line. A comparative st udy of the presence of sagittal crests in male, female, juvenile and adult specimens of extant great apes (Gorilla, Pan, Pongo) suggests that the exis tence of a sagittal crest is influenced to a greater extent by anatomical a ge rather than by the sex of the individuals. (C) 2001 Academie des science s / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.