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New primate hind limb elements from the middle Eocene of China
Daniel L Gebo1, Marian Dagosto, K Christopher Beard
1Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, United States. dgebo@niu.edu
Journal of Human Evolution
|May 16, 2008
Summary
New fossil primate hind limb discoveries from China reveal insights into early primate evolution. These findings enhance our understanding of strepsirhine and haplorhine primate anatomy and locomotion.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Primate Evolution
- Functional Morphology
Background:
- The Shanghuang fissure-fillings in China are a crucial source of middle Eocene (approximately 45 million years ago) primate fossils.
- Previous discoveries have provided a glimpse into early primate diversity, but hind limb elements have been scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe and interpret newly discovered primate hind limb elements from the Shanghuang fissure-fillings.
- To elucidate the locomotor capabilities and phylogenetic relationships of early strepsirhine and haplorhine primates.
Main Methods:
- Washing, sorting, and detailed morphological analysis of isolated fossil hind limb elements.
- Comparative anatomical study with extant primates and other fossil taxa.
- Estimation of body mass based on skeletal element dimensions.
Main Results:
- Identified strepsirhine hind limb elements (first metatarsal, talus) attributed to Adapoides troglodytes, suggesting quadrupedal-climbing locomotion similar to lorises.
- Discovered haplorhine hind limb elements representing a size range from 17g to 200g.
- Unearthed the smallest primate talus reported to date, providing new data on early haplorhine anatomy.
Conclusions:
- The new specimens expand the understanding of early haplorhine hind limb anatomy.
- The findings highlight similarities between Shanghuang eosimiids and other anthropoids.
- This research refines our knowledge of primate evolution during the middle Eocene.
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