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Laurent Marivaux - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Neotropics provide insights into the emergence of New World monkeys: New dental evidence from the late Oligocene of Peruvian Amazonia
Journal of Human Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Laurent Marivaux, Sylvain Adnet, Ali Altamirano-sierra, Myriam Boivin, Francois Pujos, Anusha Ramdarshan, Rodolfo Salas-gismondi, Julia Tejada-lara, Pierre-olivier AntoineAbstract:Recent field efforts in Peruvian Amazonia (Contamana area, Loreto Department) have resulted in the discovery of a late Oligocene (ca. 26.5 Ma; Chambira Formation) Fossil Primate-bearing locality (CTA-61). In this paper, we analyze the Primate material consisting of two isolated upper molars, the peculiar morphology of which allows us to describe a new medium-sized platyrrhine monkey: Canaanimico amazonensis gen. et sp. nov. In addition to the recent discovery of Perupithecus ucayaliensis, a primitive anthropoid taxon of African affinities from the alleged latest Eocene Santa Rosa locality (Peruvian Amazonia), the discovery of Canaanimico adds to the evidence that Primates were well-established in the Amazonian Basin during the Paleogene. Our phylogenetic results based on dental evidence show that none of the early Miocene Patagonian taxa (Homunculus, Carlocebus, Soriacebus, Mazzonicebus, Dolichocebus, Tremacebus, and Chilecebus), the late Oligocene Bolivian Branisella, or the Peruvian Canaanimico, is nested within a crown platyrrhine clade. All these early taxa are closely related and considered here as stem Platyrrhini. Canaanimico is nested within the Patagonian Soriacebinae, and closely related to Soriacebus, thereby extending back the soriacebine lineage to 26.5 Ma. Given the limited dental evidence, it is difficult to assess if Canaanimico was engaged in a form of pitheciine-like seed predation as is observed in Soriacebus and Mazzonicebus, but dental microwear patterns recorded on one upper molar indicate that Canaanimico was possibly a fruit and hard-object eater. If Panamacebus, a recently discovered stem cebine from the early Miocene of Panama, indicates that the crown platyrrhine radiation was already well underway by the earliest Miocene, Canaanimico indicates in turn that the “homunculid” radiation (as a part of the stem radiation) was well underway by the late Oligocene. These new data suggest that the stem radiation likely occurred in the Neotropics during the Oligocene, and that several stem lineages independently reached Patagonia during the early Miocene. Finally, we are still faced with a “layered” pattern of platyrrhine evolution, but modified in terms of timing of cladogeneses. If the crown platyrrhine radiation occurred in the Neotropics around the OligoceneeMiocene transition (or at least during the earliest Miocene), it was apparently concomitant with the diversification of the latest stem forms in Patagonia.
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neotropics provide insights into the emergence of new world monkeys new dental evidence from the late oligocene of peruvian amazonia
Journal of Human Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Laurent Marivaux, Sylvain Adnet, Myriam Boivin, Francois Pujos, Anusha Ramdarshan, Ali Altamiranosierra, Rodolfo Salasgismondi, Julia V Tejadalara, Pierre-olivier AntoineAbstract:Recent field efforts in Peruvian Amazonia (Contamana area, Loreto Department) have resulted in the discovery of a late Oligocene (ca. 26.5 Ma; Chambira Formation) Fossil Primate-bearing locality (CTA-61). In this paper, we analyze the Primate material consisting of two isolated upper molars, the peculiar morphology of which allows us to describe a new medium-sized platyrrhine monkey: Canaanimico amazonensis gen. et sp. nov. In addition to the recent discovery of Perupithecus ucayaliensis, a primitive anthropoid taxon of African affinities from the alleged latest Eocene Santa Rosa locality (Peruvian Amazonia), the discovery of Canaanimico adds to the evidence that Primates were well-established in the Amazonian Basin during the Paleogene. Our phylogenetic results based on dental evidence show that none of the early Miocene Patagonian taxa (Homunculus, Carlocebus, Soriacebus, Mazzonicebus, Dolichocebus, Tremacebus, and Chilecebus), the late Oligocene Bolivian Branisella, or the Peruvian Canaanimico, is nested within a crown platyrrhine clade. All these early taxa are closely related and considered here as stem Platyrrhini. Canaanimico is nested within the Patagonian Soriacebinae, and closely related to Soriacebus, thereby extending back the soriacebine lineage to 26.5 Ma. Given the limited dental evidence, it is difficult to assess if Canaanimico was engaged in a form of pitheciine-like seed predation as is observed in Soriacebus and Mazzonicebus, but dental microwear patterns recorded on one upper molar indicate that Canaanimico was possibly a fruit and hard-object eater. If Panamacebus, a recently discovered stem cebine from the early Miocene of Panama, indicates that the crown platyrrhine radiation was already well underway by the earliest Miocene, Canaanimico indicates in turn that the "homunculid" radiation (as a part of the stem radiation) was well underway by the late Oligocene. These new data suggest that the stem radiation likely occurred in the Neotropics during the Oligocene, and that several stem lineages independently reached Patagonia during the early Miocene. Finally, we are still faced with a "layered" pattern of platyrrhine evolution, but modified in terms of timing of cladogeneses. If the crown platyrrhine radiation occurred in the Neotropics around the Oligocene-Miocene transition (or at least during the earliest Miocene), it was apparently concomitant with the diversification of the latest stem forms in Patagonia.
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late middle eocene Primate from myanmar and the initial anthropoid colonization of africa
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012Co-Authors: Yaowalak Chaimanee, Laurent Marivaux, Christopher K Beard, Olivier Chavasseau, Aung Aung Kyaw, Chit Sein, Vincent Lazzari, Bernard Marandat, Mana Rugbumrung, Thit LwinAbstract:Reconstructing the origin and early evolutionary history of anthropoid Primates (monkeys, apes, and humans) is a current focus of paleoprimatology. Although earlier hypotheses frequently supported an African origin for anthropoids, recent discoveries of older and phylogenetically more basal Fossils in China and Myanmar indicate that the group originated in Asia. Given the Oligocene-Recent history of African anthropoids, the colonization of Africa by early anthropoids hailing from Asia was a decisive event in Primate evolution. However, the Fossil record has so far failed to constrain the nature and timing of this pivotal event. Here we describe a Fossil Primate from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar, Afrasia djijidae gen. et sp. nov., that is remarkably similar to, yet dentally more primitive than, the roughly contemporaneous North African anthropoid Afrotarsius. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Afrasia and Afrotarsius are sister taxa within a basal anthropoid clade designated as the infraorder Eosimiiformes. Current knowledge of eosimiiform relationships and their distribution through space and time suggests that members of this clade dispersed from Asia to Africa sometime during the middle Eocene, shortly before their first appearance in the African Fossil record. Crown anthropoids and their nearest Fossil relatives do not appear to be specially related to Afrotarsius, suggesting one or more additional episodes of dispersal from Asia to Africa. Hystricognathous rodents, anthracotheres, and possibly other Asian mammal groups seem to have colonized Africa at roughly the same time or shortly after anthropoids gained their first toehold there.
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A new Primate from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the monophyly of Burmese amphipithecids.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2009Co-Authors: K. Christopher Beard, Laurent Marivaux, Bernard Marandat, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Jean-jacques Jaeger, Paul Tafforeau, Aung Aung KyawAbstract:The family Amphipithecidae is one of the two Fossil Primate taxa from Asia that appear to be early members of the anthropoid clade. Ganlea megacanina, gen. et sp. nov., is a new amphipithecid from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar. The holotype of Ganlea is distinctive in having a relatively enormous lower canine showing heavy apical wear, indicating an important functional role of the lower canine in food preparation and ingestion. A phylogenetic analysis of amphipithecid relationships suggests that Ganlea is the sister taxon of Myanmarpithecus, a relatively small-bodied taxon that has often, but not always, been included in Amphipithecidae. Pondaungia is the sister taxon of the Ganlea + Myanmarpithecus clade. All three Pondaung amphipithecid genera are monophyletic with respect to Siamopithecus, which is the most basal amphipithecid currently known. The inclusion of Myanmarpithecus in Amphipithecidae diminishes the likelihood that amphipithecids are specially related to adapiform Primates. Extremely heavy apical wear has been documented on the lower canines of all three genera of Burmese amphipithecids. This distinctive wear pattern suggests that Burmese amphipithecids were an endemic radiation of hard object feeders that may have been ecological analogues of living New World pitheciin monkeys.
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New Sivaladapid Primates from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the Anthropoid Status of Amphipithecidae
Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 2007Co-Authors: K. Christopher Beard, Laurent Marivaux, Bernard Marandat, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Wanna Htoon, Htun Htun Aung, Jean-jacques JaegerAbstract:Abstract Fossil Primates from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar have figured prominently in recent efforts to reconstruct the early evolutionary history of anthropoids. The anthropoid affinities of Amphipithecidae, the most abundant Fossil Primates currently known from the Pondaung Formation, have proven to be particularly controversial. Here we describe two new genera and species, Paukkaungia parva and Kyitchaungia takaii, of sivaladapid Primates from the Pondaung Formation. Tarsal elements that are appropriate in size and morphology to belong to Kyitchaungia takaii are also described. These are the first undoubted adapiforms—and the first Fossil Primates other than anthropoids—to be reported from the Eocene of Myanmar. The discovery of sivaladapids in the Pondaung Formation enhances the taxonomic and paleoecological diversity of the late middle Eocene Primate fauna of Myanmar. In this respect, the Fossil Primate community from the Pondaung Formation appears to have resembled roughly c...
Pierre-olivier Antoine - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Neotropics provide insights into the emergence of New World monkeys: New dental evidence from the late Oligocene of Peruvian Amazonia
Journal of Human Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Laurent Marivaux, Sylvain Adnet, Ali Altamirano-sierra, Myriam Boivin, Francois Pujos, Anusha Ramdarshan, Rodolfo Salas-gismondi, Julia Tejada-lara, Pierre-olivier AntoineAbstract:Recent field efforts in Peruvian Amazonia (Contamana area, Loreto Department) have resulted in the discovery of a late Oligocene (ca. 26.5 Ma; Chambira Formation) Fossil Primate-bearing locality (CTA-61). In this paper, we analyze the Primate material consisting of two isolated upper molars, the peculiar morphology of which allows us to describe a new medium-sized platyrrhine monkey: Canaanimico amazonensis gen. et sp. nov. In addition to the recent discovery of Perupithecus ucayaliensis, a primitive anthropoid taxon of African affinities from the alleged latest Eocene Santa Rosa locality (Peruvian Amazonia), the discovery of Canaanimico adds to the evidence that Primates were well-established in the Amazonian Basin during the Paleogene. Our phylogenetic results based on dental evidence show that none of the early Miocene Patagonian taxa (Homunculus, Carlocebus, Soriacebus, Mazzonicebus, Dolichocebus, Tremacebus, and Chilecebus), the late Oligocene Bolivian Branisella, or the Peruvian Canaanimico, is nested within a crown platyrrhine clade. All these early taxa are closely related and considered here as stem Platyrrhini. Canaanimico is nested within the Patagonian Soriacebinae, and closely related to Soriacebus, thereby extending back the soriacebine lineage to 26.5 Ma. Given the limited dental evidence, it is difficult to assess if Canaanimico was engaged in a form of pitheciine-like seed predation as is observed in Soriacebus and Mazzonicebus, but dental microwear patterns recorded on one upper molar indicate that Canaanimico was possibly a fruit and hard-object eater. If Panamacebus, a recently discovered stem cebine from the early Miocene of Panama, indicates that the crown platyrrhine radiation was already well underway by the earliest Miocene, Canaanimico indicates in turn that the “homunculid” radiation (as a part of the stem radiation) was well underway by the late Oligocene. These new data suggest that the stem radiation likely occurred in the Neotropics during the Oligocene, and that several stem lineages independently reached Patagonia during the early Miocene. Finally, we are still faced with a “layered” pattern of platyrrhine evolution, but modified in terms of timing of cladogeneses. If the crown platyrrhine radiation occurred in the Neotropics around the OligoceneeMiocene transition (or at least during the earliest Miocene), it was apparently concomitant with the diversification of the latest stem forms in Patagonia.
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neotropics provide insights into the emergence of new world monkeys new dental evidence from the late oligocene of peruvian amazonia
Journal of Human Evolution, 2016Co-Authors: Laurent Marivaux, Sylvain Adnet, Myriam Boivin, Francois Pujos, Anusha Ramdarshan, Ali Altamiranosierra, Rodolfo Salasgismondi, Julia V Tejadalara, Pierre-olivier AntoineAbstract:Recent field efforts in Peruvian Amazonia (Contamana area, Loreto Department) have resulted in the discovery of a late Oligocene (ca. 26.5 Ma; Chambira Formation) Fossil Primate-bearing locality (CTA-61). In this paper, we analyze the Primate material consisting of two isolated upper molars, the peculiar morphology of which allows us to describe a new medium-sized platyrrhine monkey: Canaanimico amazonensis gen. et sp. nov. In addition to the recent discovery of Perupithecus ucayaliensis, a primitive anthropoid taxon of African affinities from the alleged latest Eocene Santa Rosa locality (Peruvian Amazonia), the discovery of Canaanimico adds to the evidence that Primates were well-established in the Amazonian Basin during the Paleogene. Our phylogenetic results based on dental evidence show that none of the early Miocene Patagonian taxa (Homunculus, Carlocebus, Soriacebus, Mazzonicebus, Dolichocebus, Tremacebus, and Chilecebus), the late Oligocene Bolivian Branisella, or the Peruvian Canaanimico, is nested within a crown platyrrhine clade. All these early taxa are closely related and considered here as stem Platyrrhini. Canaanimico is nested within the Patagonian Soriacebinae, and closely related to Soriacebus, thereby extending back the soriacebine lineage to 26.5 Ma. Given the limited dental evidence, it is difficult to assess if Canaanimico was engaged in a form of pitheciine-like seed predation as is observed in Soriacebus and Mazzonicebus, but dental microwear patterns recorded on one upper molar indicate that Canaanimico was possibly a fruit and hard-object eater. If Panamacebus, a recently discovered stem cebine from the early Miocene of Panama, indicates that the crown platyrrhine radiation was already well underway by the earliest Miocene, Canaanimico indicates in turn that the "homunculid" radiation (as a part of the stem radiation) was well underway by the late Oligocene. These new data suggest that the stem radiation likely occurred in the Neotropics during the Oligocene, and that several stem lineages independently reached Patagonia during the early Miocene. Finally, we are still faced with a "layered" pattern of platyrrhine evolution, but modified in terms of timing of cladogeneses. If the crown platyrrhine radiation occurred in the Neotropics around the Oligocene-Miocene transition (or at least during the earliest Miocene), it was apparently concomitant with the diversification of the latest stem forms in Patagonia.
Yaowalak Chaimanee - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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late middle eocene Primate from myanmar and the initial anthropoid colonization of africa
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012Co-Authors: Yaowalak Chaimanee, Laurent Marivaux, Christopher K Beard, Olivier Chavasseau, Aung Aung Kyaw, Chit Sein, Vincent Lazzari, Bernard Marandat, Mana Rugbumrung, Thit LwinAbstract:Reconstructing the origin and early evolutionary history of anthropoid Primates (monkeys, apes, and humans) is a current focus of paleoprimatology. Although earlier hypotheses frequently supported an African origin for anthropoids, recent discoveries of older and phylogenetically more basal Fossils in China and Myanmar indicate that the group originated in Asia. Given the Oligocene-Recent history of African anthropoids, the colonization of Africa by early anthropoids hailing from Asia was a decisive event in Primate evolution. However, the Fossil record has so far failed to constrain the nature and timing of this pivotal event. Here we describe a Fossil Primate from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar, Afrasia djijidae gen. et sp. nov., that is remarkably similar to, yet dentally more primitive than, the roughly contemporaneous North African anthropoid Afrotarsius. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Afrasia and Afrotarsius are sister taxa within a basal anthropoid clade designated as the infraorder Eosimiiformes. Current knowledge of eosimiiform relationships and their distribution through space and time suggests that members of this clade dispersed from Asia to Africa sometime during the middle Eocene, shortly before their first appearance in the African Fossil record. Crown anthropoids and their nearest Fossil relatives do not appear to be specially related to Afrotarsius, suggesting one or more additional episodes of dispersal from Asia to Africa. Hystricognathous rodents, anthracotheres, and possibly other Asian mammal groups seem to have colonized Africa at roughly the same time or shortly after anthropoids gained their first toehold there.
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A new Primate from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the monophyly of Burmese amphipithecids.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2009Co-Authors: K. Christopher Beard, Laurent Marivaux, Bernard Marandat, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Jean-jacques Jaeger, Paul Tafforeau, Aung Aung KyawAbstract:The family Amphipithecidae is one of the two Fossil Primate taxa from Asia that appear to be early members of the anthropoid clade. Ganlea megacanina, gen. et sp. nov., is a new amphipithecid from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar. The holotype of Ganlea is distinctive in having a relatively enormous lower canine showing heavy apical wear, indicating an important functional role of the lower canine in food preparation and ingestion. A phylogenetic analysis of amphipithecid relationships suggests that Ganlea is the sister taxon of Myanmarpithecus, a relatively small-bodied taxon that has often, but not always, been included in Amphipithecidae. Pondaungia is the sister taxon of the Ganlea + Myanmarpithecus clade. All three Pondaung amphipithecid genera are monophyletic with respect to Siamopithecus, which is the most basal amphipithecid currently known. The inclusion of Myanmarpithecus in Amphipithecidae diminishes the likelihood that amphipithecids are specially related to adapiform Primates. Extremely heavy apical wear has been documented on the lower canines of all three genera of Burmese amphipithecids. This distinctive wear pattern suggests that Burmese amphipithecids were an endemic radiation of hard object feeders that may have been ecological analogues of living New World pitheciin monkeys.
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New Sivaladapid Primates from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the Anthropoid Status of Amphipithecidae
Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 2007Co-Authors: K. Christopher Beard, Laurent Marivaux, Bernard Marandat, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Wanna Htoon, Htun Htun Aung, Jean-jacques JaegerAbstract:Abstract Fossil Primates from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar have figured prominently in recent efforts to reconstruct the early evolutionary history of anthropoids. The anthropoid affinities of Amphipithecidae, the most abundant Fossil Primates currently known from the Pondaung Formation, have proven to be particularly controversial. Here we describe two new genera and species, Paukkaungia parva and Kyitchaungia takaii, of sivaladapid Primates from the Pondaung Formation. Tarsal elements that are appropriate in size and morphology to belong to Kyitchaungia takaii are also described. These are the first undoubted adapiforms—and the first Fossil Primates other than anthropoids—to be reported from the Eocene of Myanmar. The discovery of sivaladapids in the Pondaung Formation enhances the taxonomic and paleoecological diversity of the late middle Eocene Primate fauna of Myanmar. In this respect, the Fossil Primate community from the Pondaung Formation appears to have resembled roughly c...
Masanaru Takai - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Morphology of Two Maxillae of Pondaung Primates (Pondaungia cotteri and Amphipithecus mogaungensis) (middle Eocene, Myanmar)
Anthropoid Origins, 2004Co-Authors: Nobuo Shigehara, Masanaru TakaiAbstract:It was in the second decade of the last century that the first Primate Fossil was found in the Pondaung area, central Myanmar (Burma). In 1914, a Primate Fossil was collected near Pangan Village by Dr Cotter and named Pondaungia cotteri by Pilgrim (1927). In 1923, another Fossil Primate was found near Mogaung Village and named Amphipithecus mogaungmsis by (1937). These Fossil Primates were then regarded as higher Primates, members of the Anthropoidea.
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A new anthropoid from the latest middle Eocene of Pondaung, central Myanmar.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2001Co-Authors: Masanaru Takai, Takehisa Tsubamoto, Nobuo Shigehara, Aye Ko Aung, Tin TheinAbstract:Abstract A new genus and species of medium-sized Fossil Primate, Myanmarpithecus yarshensis, is described from the lastest middle Eocene sediments of Pondaung, central Myanmar (Burma). The specimens consist of right maxillary fragments with P4–M3and a left mandibular corpus with C–P3and M2–3. To date, three purported anthropoids have been discovered from the Pondaung Formation: Pondaungia andAmphipithecus (Amphipithecidae) and Bahinia (Eosimiidae). Myanmarpithecus differs from these other Pondaung Primates in having cingular hypocones on upper molars and in lacking paraconids on M2–3. AlthoughMyanmarpithecus resembles some utahiin omomyines in superficial aspects of the morphology of M2–3(i.e., mesiodistally compressed molar trigonid and enamel crenulation), the morphological analysis of upper molars and lower premolars indicates that it is neither an omomyoid nor an adapoid but is more derived than Fossil prosimians (such as adapoids, omomyoids, and tarsiers) and more anthropoid-like. On the other hand, it is more primitive (prosimian-like) than early anthropoids from the late Eocene/early Oligocene of the Fayum, Egypt. Myanmarpithecus is likely to be an early, primitive anthropoid (“protoanthropoid”).
Aung Aung Kyaw - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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late middle eocene Primate from myanmar and the initial anthropoid colonization of africa
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012Co-Authors: Yaowalak Chaimanee, Laurent Marivaux, Christopher K Beard, Olivier Chavasseau, Aung Aung Kyaw, Chit Sein, Vincent Lazzari, Bernard Marandat, Mana Rugbumrung, Thit LwinAbstract:Reconstructing the origin and early evolutionary history of anthropoid Primates (monkeys, apes, and humans) is a current focus of paleoprimatology. Although earlier hypotheses frequently supported an African origin for anthropoids, recent discoveries of older and phylogenetically more basal Fossils in China and Myanmar indicate that the group originated in Asia. Given the Oligocene-Recent history of African anthropoids, the colonization of Africa by early anthropoids hailing from Asia was a decisive event in Primate evolution. However, the Fossil record has so far failed to constrain the nature and timing of this pivotal event. Here we describe a Fossil Primate from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar, Afrasia djijidae gen. et sp. nov., that is remarkably similar to, yet dentally more primitive than, the roughly contemporaneous North African anthropoid Afrotarsius. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Afrasia and Afrotarsius are sister taxa within a basal anthropoid clade designated as the infraorder Eosimiiformes. Current knowledge of eosimiiform relationships and their distribution through space and time suggests that members of this clade dispersed from Asia to Africa sometime during the middle Eocene, shortly before their first appearance in the African Fossil record. Crown anthropoids and their nearest Fossil relatives do not appear to be specially related to Afrotarsius, suggesting one or more additional episodes of dispersal from Asia to Africa. Hystricognathous rodents, anthracotheres, and possibly other Asian mammal groups seem to have colonized Africa at roughly the same time or shortly after anthropoids gained their first toehold there.
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A new Primate from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the monophyly of Burmese amphipithecids.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2009Co-Authors: K. Christopher Beard, Laurent Marivaux, Bernard Marandat, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Jean-jacques Jaeger, Paul Tafforeau, Aung Aung KyawAbstract:The family Amphipithecidae is one of the two Fossil Primate taxa from Asia that appear to be early members of the anthropoid clade. Ganlea megacanina, gen. et sp. nov., is a new amphipithecid from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar. The holotype of Ganlea is distinctive in having a relatively enormous lower canine showing heavy apical wear, indicating an important functional role of the lower canine in food preparation and ingestion. A phylogenetic analysis of amphipithecid relationships suggests that Ganlea is the sister taxon of Myanmarpithecus, a relatively small-bodied taxon that has often, but not always, been included in Amphipithecidae. Pondaungia is the sister taxon of the Ganlea + Myanmarpithecus clade. All three Pondaung amphipithecid genera are monophyletic with respect to Siamopithecus, which is the most basal amphipithecid currently known. The inclusion of Myanmarpithecus in Amphipithecidae diminishes the likelihood that amphipithecids are specially related to adapiform Primates. Extremely heavy apical wear has been documented on the lower canines of all three genera of Burmese amphipithecids. This distinctive wear pattern suggests that Burmese amphipithecids were an endemic radiation of hard object feeders that may have been ecological analogues of living New World pitheciin monkeys.