Title: Phyletic diversity and locomotion in primitive European hominids
Abstract: Abstract A major contribution of previous analyses of Miocene hominoid postcrania is the recognition of a great ape grade of locomotor morphology in the late Miocene. However, in the absence of a consideration of the taxonomic and phylogenetic implications of the specimens concerned, the importance of this conclusion remains unappreciated. This paper presents a revised view of the positional implications of late Miocene hominid fossils and considers some of the taxonomic and phyletic implications of these specimens. The taxonomic status of a number of large catarrhine specimens from Europe (attributed to Dryopithecus , Sivapithecus , Austriacopithecus , Paidopithex , Rudapithecus ) is discussed. The functional and phyletic significance of this material reveals a complex pattern of behavioral and phyletic diversity among large‐bodied catarrhines in Europe and suggests that this diversity evolved in situ from circum‐Mediterranean middle Miocene ancestors.
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-03-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 86
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot