C
Claire E. Terhune Data-verified
Affiliation confirmed via AI analysis of OpenAlex, ORCID, and web sources.
Federal Grant PI
Researcher
faculty
18 h-index
77 pubs
1,034 cited
Research Areas
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Claire E. Terhune's research focuses on paleontology and comparative anatomy, investigating the evolutionary history and functional morphology of primate and hominin craniofacial structures. Her work utilizes geometric morphometrics, a technique that analyzes shape variation in biological specimens, to study skeletal age, fluctuating asymmetry, and ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape across various primate species, including rhesus macaques, tufted capuchins, gorillas, and chimpanzees. Terhune also examines fossil evidence to reconstruct early hominin dispersals and paleoenvironmental conditions.
Her federally funded research includes a $32,610 NSF grant as PI for doctoral dissertation research on the chewing function of the hyoid bone and suprahyoid muscles in primates. She also serves as Co-PI on two NSF grants totaling $457,448 focused on advancing spatial archaeometry through collaborative research, experimentation, and education. Terhune leads a research group and collaborates with researchers from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith and within the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, evidenced by shared publications.
Metrics
- h-index: 18
- Publications: 77
- Citations: 1,034
Selected Publications
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A (Bite) Force to Be Reckoned With (2025)
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Ontogenetic Changes in Feeding Behaviors in Tufted Capuchins (2025)
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Jaw‐Muscle Structure and Function in Primates: Insights Into Muscle Performance and Feeding‐System Behaviors (2025)
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Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago (2025)
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The influence of age, biological sex, anthropometrics, and neck characteristics on external occipital protuberance size (2024)
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Jaw-muscle fiber architecture and skull form facilitate relatively wide jaw gapes in male cercopithecoid monkeys (2024)
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Sexual Dimorphism and Divergent Evolutionary Pathways in Primate Cranial Biomechanics: Insights From a Theoretical Morphology Framework (2024)
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Variation in Craniodental Pathologies Among Cercopithecoid Primates (2024)
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Ontogenetic biomechanics of tufted (<i>Sapajus</i>) and untufted (<i>Cebus</i>) capuchin mandibles (2024)
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Dental remains of Plio–Pleistocene Cercopithecidae (Mammalia: Primates) from Romania (2024)
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Tradeoffs between bite force and gape in <i>Eulemur</i> and <i>Varecia</i> (2024)
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Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins (2024)
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The impact of measurement technique and sampling on estimates of skeletal muscle fibre architecture (2024)
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CARNIVORA FROM THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF GRĂUNCEANU (OLTEŢ RIVER VALLEY, DACIAN BASIN, ROMANIA) (2023)
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Skeletal age during hurricane impacts fluctuating asymmetry in Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques (2023)
Federal Grants 3 $490,471 total
NSF
Co-PI
Sep 2021 - Aug 2023
NSF
Co-PI
Aug 2023 - May 2026
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
Sabrina Curran
Ohio University (US)
7 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- The youngest pangolin (Mammalia, Pholidota) from Europe
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- CARNIVORA FROM THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF GRĂUNCEANU (OLTEŢ RIVER VALLEY, DACIAN BASIN, ROMANIA)
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Alexandru Petculescu
Romanian Academy (RO)
7 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- The youngest pangolin (Mammalia, Pholidota) from Europe
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- CARNIVORA FROM THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF GRĂUNCEANU (OLTEŢ RIVER VALLEY, DACIAN BASIN, ROMANIA)
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Myra F. Laird
Translational Therapeutics (United States) (US)
7 shared publications
- Ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape in tufted capuchins
- Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins
- Tradeoffs between bite force and gape in <i>Eulemur</i> and <i>Varecia</i>
- Jaw‐Muscle Structure and Function in Primates: Insights Into Muscle Performance and Feeding‐System Behaviors
- Ontogenetic biomechanics of tufted (<i>Sapajus</i>) and untufted (<i>Cebus</i>) capuchin mandibles
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Andrea B. Taylor
Touro University California (US)
7 shared publications
- Ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape in tufted capuchins
- Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins
- The impact of measurement technique and sampling on estimates of skeletal muscle fibre architecture
- Tradeoffs between bite force and gape in <i>Eulemur</i> and <i>Varecia</i>
- Jaw-muscle fiber architecture and skull form facilitate relatively wide jaw gapes in male cercopithecoid monkeys
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
Virgil Drăgușin
Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology (RO)
6 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- CARNIVORA FROM THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF GRĂUNCEANU (OLTEŢ RIVER VALLEY, DACIAN BASIN, ROMANIA)
- Dental remains of Plio–Pleistocene Cercopithecidae (Mammalia: Primates) from Romania
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
Caitlin B. Yoakum
6 shared publications
- Ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape in tufted capuchins
- The inferior alveolar nerve and its relationship to the mandibular canal
- Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins
- Issue Information
- Ontogenetic biomechanics of tufted (<i>Sapajus</i>) and untufted (<i>Cebus</i>) capuchin mandibles
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
Megan A. Holmes
Duke University (US)
6 shared publications
- Ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape in tufted capuchins
- Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins
- Jaw‐Muscle Structure and Function in Primates: Insights Into Muscle Performance and Feeding‐System Behaviors
- Ontogenetic biomechanics of tufted (<i>Sapajus</i>) and untufted (<i>Cebus</i>) capuchin mandibles
- Ontogenetic Changes in Feeding Behaviors in Tufted Capuchins
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
Callum F. Ross
University of Chicago (US)
5 shared publications
- Ontogenetic changes in bite force and gape in tufted capuchins
- Ontogenetic changes in jaw leverage and skull shape in tufted and untufted capuchins
- The impact of measurement technique and sampling on estimates of skeletal muscle fibre architecture
- Tradeoffs between bite force and gape in <i>Eulemur</i> and <i>Varecia</i>
- Jaw-muscle fiber architecture and skull form facilitate relatively wide jaw gapes in male cercopithecoid monkeys
D. Rex Mitchell
Flinders University (AU)
4 shared publications
- Bolstering geometric morphometrics sample sizes with damaged and pathologic specimens: Is near enough good enough?
- Craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry in gorillas, chimpanzees, and macaques
- Temporomandibular joint shape in anthropoid primates varies widely and is patterned by size and phylogeny
- Variation in Craniodental Pathologies Among Cercopithecoid Primates
Claire A. Kirchhoff
Marquette University (US)
4 shared publications
- Bolstering geometric morphometrics sample sizes with damaged and pathologic specimens: Is near enough good enough?
- Craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry in gorillas, chimpanzees, and macaques
- Temporomandibular joint shape in anthropoid primates varies widely and is patterned by size and phylogeny
- Variation in Craniodental Pathologies Among Cercopithecoid Primates
Siobhán B. Cooke
Johns Hopkins University (US)
4 shared publications
- Bolstering geometric morphometrics sample sizes with damaged and pathologic specimens: Is near enough good enough?
- Craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry in gorillas, chimpanzees, and macaques
- Temporomandibular joint shape in anthropoid primates varies widely and is patterned by size and phylogeny
- Variation in Craniodental Pathologies Among Cercopithecoid Primates
Roman Croitor
Moldova State University (MD)
4 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
Briana Pobiner
Smithsonian Institution (US)
4 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
Chris Robinson
Bronx Community College (US)
4 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Multiproxy paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Early Pleistocene sites from the Olteţ River Valley of Romania
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
Aurelian Popescu
University of Craiova (RO)
4 shared publications
- Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia
- CARNIVORA FROM THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF GRĂUNCEANU (OLTEŢ RIVER VALLEY, DACIAN BASIN, ROMANIA)
- Early pleistocene ruminants (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from the Dacian Basin (South Romania) before and after the <i>Pachycrocuta</i> event: implications for hominin dispersals in Western Eurasia