Related Experiment Videos
New Sivapithecus humeri from Pakistan and the relationship of Sivapithecus and Pongo
D Pilbeam1, M D Rose, J C Barry
1Department of Anthropology, Peabody Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Nature
|November 15, 1990
Summary
New Miocene hominoid Sivapithecus humeri fossils from Pakistan challenge close evolutionary links to orangutans. These fossils suggest Sivapithecus may not be closely related to Pongo, despite previous hypotheses.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Primate Evolution
- Fossil Discoveries
Background:
- Sivapithecus is a middle and late Miocene hominoid found in Turkey and Indo-Pakistan.
- Facial and palatal similarities between Sivapithecus and the orangutan (Pongo) have suggested a close evolutionary relationship.
- Postcranial features, particularly of the proximal humerus, are considered important for understanding hominoid phylogeny.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe new proximal humerus fossils of Sivapithecus from Pakistan.
- To evaluate the phylogenetic implications of these new fossils for understanding Sivapithecus' relationship to living hominoids, especially Pongo.
Main Methods:
- Description and comparative analysis of newly discovered Sivapithecus proximal humerus fossils.
- Comparison of fossil morphology with the proximal humeri of extant hominoids (humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans).
Main Results:
- New proximal humerus fossils of two Sivapithecus species were recovered from the Chinji area of Pakistan, dated to 9-11 million years ago.
- The morphology of the Sivapithecus proximal humeri differs significantly from those of all living hominoids.
- These differences contradict the hypothesis of a close relationship between Sivapithecus and Pongo based on facial features.
Conclusions:
- The new humerus fossils provide evidence against a close evolutionary relationship between Sivapithecus and Pongo.
- The findings support an alternative hypothesis that Sivapithecus and Pongo are not closely related.
- Further research is needed to resolve the phylogenetic position of Sivapithecus within the hominoid family tree.