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A large pliopithecine molar from Germany and some notes on the Pliopithecinae.
1Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Folia Primatologica; International Journal of Primatology
|January 1, 1989
Summary
New pliopithecine fossils from West Germany, including Anapithecus cf. hernyaki, suggest primate diversity in the Late Miocene. This discovery supports the classification of a femur from Eppelsheim to the Pliopithecinae subfamily.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Primate Evolution
- Neogene Mammals
Background:
- The Pliopithecinae are an extinct subfamily of catarrhine primates known from the Miocene and Pliocene of Eurasia.
- Fossil evidence for pliopithecines in Europe during the Late Miocene is sparse, limiting our understanding of their diversity and distribution.
Observation:
- A fossil lower molar from Salmendingen, West Germany, is described and identified as Anapithecus cf. hernyaki.
- This identification provides new data on the morphology of large-bodied pliopithecines.
Findings:
- The Salmendingen molar, alongside other evidence, supports the attribution of a femur from Eppelsheim to the Pliopithecinae.
- These fossils represent a significant addition to the known pliopithecine fossil record in Europe.
Implications:
- The newly identified fossils indicate greater primate diversity in Late Miocene Europe than previously recognized.
- The morphological uniqueness of these specimens contributes to understanding the evolutionary history of primates in the region.