Abstract Human hands are distinguished from apes by possessing longer thumbs relative to fingers. However, this simple ape-human dichotomy fails provide an adequate framework for testing competing hypotheses of human evolution and reconstructing the morphology last common ancestor (LCA) humans chimpanzees. We inspect ape hand-length proportions using phylogenetically informed morphometric analyses test alternative models along anthropoid tree life, including fossils like plesiomorphic...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Modern humans are characterized by specialized hand morphology that is associated with advanced manipulative skills. Thus, there important debate in paleoanthropology about the possible cause–effect relationship of this modern human-like (MHL) anatomy, its grips and invention use stone tools early hominins. Here we describe analyse Olduvai Hominin (OH) 86, a manual proximal phalanx from recently discovered >1.84-million-year-old (Ma) Philip Tobias Korongo (PTK) site at Gorge...

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...

Monitor lizards (genus Varanus) inhabited Europe at least from the early Miocene to Pleistocene. Their fossil record is limited about 40 localities that have provided mostly isolated vertebrae. Due poor diagnostic value of these fossils, it was recently claimed all European species described prior 21st century are not taxonomically valid and a new species, Varanus amnhophilis, erected on basis fragmentary material including cranial elements, late Samos (Greece). We re-examined type...

Abstract European Miocene tapirs (Perissodactyla, Tapiridae) are mainly documented by isolated and fragmentary remains, little is known about the morphological variability of various recognized species, in particular concerning deciduous dentition. Here, we describe new material from three Vallesian (Late Miocene) sites Vallès-Penedès Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula): Creu de Conill 20 (CCN20; earliest MN9, 11.2 Ma), Can Llobateres 1 (CLL1; MN10, 9.8 Gambús-Illeta 5 (CGS-I5; 9.7–9.1 Ma). The...

ABSTRACT Objectives The functional interpretation of postcranial remains Middle Miocene great apes from Europe (dryopithecines) suggests a combination quadrupedalism and orthograde behaviors without modern analogs. We provide further insights based on an isolated dryopithecine talus (IPS85037) the (11.7 Ma) Abocador de Can Mata locality ACM/C8‐B* (Vallès‐Penedès Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula), which represents most complete one known to date. Material Methods compare specimen with extant...

Abstract Functional morphologists have long noted that skeletal adaptations in primate phalanges reflect locomotor behavior. While most studies successfully used two‐dimensional measurements to quantify general features of phalanx shape, a whole‐bone three‐dimensional analysis may better capture more subtle aspects morphology not been quantifiable but are functionally meaningful. Here, we compare linear measurement (LM) and weighted spherical harmonic/sliding semilandmark (SPHARM‐sliding)...

Abstract In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using morphology to establish the placement of species on phylogenetic trees derived from molecular data. This is relevant case recently extinct or fossil species, which are usually represented only by fragmentary morphology. latter case, constrained analyses backbone have also proven helpful evaluating specimens morphological Consequently, several available programs now include functions run searches. However, comprehensive...

Se presenta una síntesis del registro de vertebrados fósiles Abocador Can Mata (els Hostalets Pierola, cuenca neógena Vallès-Penedès), con especial énfasis en los aspectos taxonómico y bioestratigráfico. Este macroyacimiento incluye por el momento sucesión 91 localidades micro- y/o macrovertebrados muestreadas, repartidas a lo largo unos 300 m serie estratigráfica, abarcando un intervalo tiempo más millón años correspondiente al Aragoniense superior. Durante 28 meses trabajo campo...

ABSTRACT Elucidating the pelvic morphology of Pan ‐ Homo last common ancestor (LCA) is crucial for understanding ape and human evolution. The pelvis Ardipithecus ramidus has been basis controversial interpretations LCA pelvis. In particular, it was proposed that lower ilium became elongate independently in orangutan chimpanzee clades, making these taxa poor analogues LCA. This study examines variation relative height between within living fossil hominoid species (and other anthropoids),...

Significance A critical step in the evolutionary history leading to origins of humankind was adoption habitual bipedal locomotion by our hominin ancestors. We have identified novel bony shape variables forefoot across extant anthropoids and extinct hominins that are linked functionally emergence walking. Results indicate a consistent generalizable pattern pedal evolution spans from Ardipithecus early Homo —the relatively late derivation modern hallux comparison with lateral rays. These data...

Pierolapithecus catalaunicus (~12 million years ago, northeastern Spain) is key to understanding the mosaic nature of hominid (great ape and human) evolution. Notably, its skeleton indicates that an orthograde (upright) body plan preceded suspensory adaptations in However, there ongoing debate about this species, partly because sole known cranium, preserving a nearly complete face, suffers from taphonomic damage. We 1) carried out micro computerized tomography (CT) based virtual...