A5019658819- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Archaeological and Historical Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
- Historical Studies in Science
- Marine animal studies overview
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Philosophy and Phenomenology Studies
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences and Policies
- Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont
2016-2025
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
2016-2025
Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats
2016-2025
Institut Català de Ciències del Clima
2013
Barcelona Provincial Council
1990-2005
Universitat Politècnica de València
2003
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2002
Pigorini National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography
1999
We describe a partial skeleton with facial cranium of Pierolapithecus catalaunicus gen. et sp. nov., new Middle Miocene (12.5 to 13 million years ago) ape from Barranc de Can Vila 1 (Barcelona, Spain). It is the first known individual this age that combines well-preserved cranial, dental, and postcranial material. The thorax, lumbar region, wrist provide evidence modern ape–like orthograde body design, morphology includes basic derived great features. reveals early apes retained primitive...
Extant apes (Primates: Hominoidea) are the relics of a group that was much more diverse in past. They originated Africa around Oligocene/Miocene boundary, but by beginning Middle Miocene they expanded their range into Eurasia, where experienced far-reaching evolutionary radiation. A Eurasian origin great ape and human clade (Hominidae) has been favored several authors, assessment this hypothesis hampered lack accurate datings for many Western hominoids. Here we provide an updated chronology...
Because of their physiological and life history characteristics, mammals exploit adaptive zones unavailable to ectothermic reptiles. Yet, they perform best in energy-rich environments because high constant growth rates sustained levels resting metabolism require continuous resource supply. In resource-limited ecosystems such as islands, therefore, reptiles frequently displace slow flexible low metabolic permit them operate effectively with energy flow. An apparent contradiction this general...
Comparative morphological and functional analyses of the skeletal remains Oreopithecus bambolii , a hominoid from Miocene Mediterranean island Tuscany–Sardinia (Italy), provides evidence that bipedal activities made up significant part positional behavior this primate. The mosaic pattern its postcranial morphology is to some degree convergent with Australopithecus functionally intermediate between apes early hominids. Some unique traits could have been selected only under insular conditions...
Textural properties and functional morphology of the hip bone cancellous network Oreopithecus bambolii , a 9- to 7-million-year-old Late Miocene hominoid from Italy, provide insights into postural locomotor behavior this fossil ape. Digital image processing calibrated radiographs reveals occurrence trabecular features, which, in humans hominids, are related vertical support body weight, i.e., bipedality.
Functional and allometric analyses of the hand late Miocene ape Oreopithecus bambolii (Tuscany, Italy) reveal a series features that reflect an improved grasping capability including firm pad-to-pad precision gripping apes are unable to perform. Related such as length, relative thumb deep large insertion area for tendon long flexor, form metacarpal 2/capitate articulation not present in extant or fossil apes. In these features, closely matches pattern early hominids, presumably response...
Our study of the fossil rupicaprine bovid <i>Myotragus</i> [Bate, 1909] from Mediterranean island Majorca (Spain) provides evidence that this animal underwent significant changes (reduction) in relative size brain and sense organs after geographic isolation at end Messinian Salinity Crisis (Miocene-Pliocene boundary, 5.2 Mya). The central nervous system parallel pattern reported for domesticated animals, which decrease is accompanied by a their organs. We interpret important...
Abstract A well‐preserved 11.8‐million‐years‐old lower face attributed to the seminal taxon Dryopithecus fontani (Primates, Hominidae) from Catalan site ACM/C3‐Ae of Hostalets de Pierola area (Vallès‐Penedès Basin, Catalonia, NE Spain) is described. The new data indicate that D. distinct at genus level Late Miocene European taxa previously , which are here reassigned Hispanopithecus . facial specimen also suggests and Middle Pierolapithecus catalaunicus not synonymous. Anatomical...
Background The morphology of human pollical distal phalanges (PDP) closely reflects the adaptation hands for refined precision grip with pad-to-pad contact. presence these grip-related traits in PDP fossil hominins has been related to human-like hand proportions (i.e. short a long thumb) enabling thumb and finger pads Although this traditionally linked appearance stone tool-making, alternative hypothesis an earlier origin—related freeing thanks advent terrestrial bipedalism—is also possible...
Morphological and biometrical analyses of the partial hand IPS18800 fossil great ape Hispanopithecus laietanus (= Dryopithecus ), from Late Miocene (about 9.5 Ma) Can Llobateres (Catalonia, Spain), reveal many similarities with extant orang-utans ( Pongo ). These are interpreted as adaptations to below-branch suspensory behaviours, including arm-swinging clambering/postural feeding on slender arboreal supports, due an orang-like double-locking mechanism. This is confirmed by long highly...
The great ape and human clade (Primates: Hominidae) currently includes orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, humans. When, where, from which taxon hominids evolved are among the most exciting questions yet to be resolved. Within Afropithecidae, Kenyapithecinae (Kenyapithecini + Equatorini) have been proposed as sister of hominids, but thus far fragmentary scarce Middle Miocene fossil record has hampered testing this hypothesis. Here we describe a male partial face with mandible...
Miocene small-bodied anthropoid primates from Africa and Eurasia are generally considered to precede the divergence between two groups of extant catarrhines—hominoids (apes humans) Old World monkeys—and thus viewed as more primitive than stem ape Proconsul. Here we describe Pliobates cataloniae gen. et sp. nov., a (4 5 kilograms) primate Iberian (11.6 million years ago) that displays mosaic characteristics coupled with multiple cranial postcranial shared derived features hominoids. Our...
During the last decade, new discoveries in several Iberian basins, together with description of previously unpublished finds, have significantly increased recorded paleodiversity fossil Primates (Mammalia: Euarchonta) Peninsula. Here we provide an updated compendium primate record Iberia during Cenozoic and further summarize changes paleodiversity through time, which are then analyzed light changing climatic conditions. Thanks to favorable conditions, highest diversity primates was reached...
The extinct dryopithecine Hispanopithecus (Primates: Hominidae), from the Late Miocene of Europe, is oldest fossil great ape displaying an orthograde body plan coupled with unambiguous suspensory adaptations. On basis hand morphology, laietanus has been considered to primitively retain adaptations above-branch quadrupedalism–thus a locomotor repertoire unknown among extant or hominoids, which unlikely by some researchers. Here we describe partial skeleton H. Vallesian (MN9) locality Can Feu...
Abstract The systematic status of the small-bodied catarrhine primate Pliobates cataloniae , from Miocene (11.6 Ma) Spain, is controversial because it displays a mosaic primitive and derived features compared with extant hominoids (apes humans). Cladistic analyses have recovered as either stem hominoid or pliopithecoid (i.e., preceding cercopithecoid–hominoid divergence). Here, we describe additional dental remains P. another locality that display unambiguous synapomorphies crouzeliid...