Related Experiment Videos
A new Late Eocene anthropoid primate from Thailand
Y Chaimanee1, V Suteethorn, J J Jaeger
1Department of Mineral Resources, Geological Survey Division, Paleontological Section, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nature
|January 30, 1997
Summary
A new fossil primate discovered in Thailand provides evidence for a Southeast Asian origin of anthropoids. This finding challenges previous theories and highlights the region's importance in early primate evolution.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Primatology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The early fossil record of anthropoid primates is limited, with key fossils from South Asia (Burma) and Africa.
- The anthropoid status and phylogenetic placement of Eocene South Asian primates remain debated.
- Recent discoveries in Africa and China have suggested alternative origins for anthropoids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the discovery of a new anthropoid primate fossil from Thailand.
- To analyze the characteristics of this new fossil and its phylogenetic implications.
- To contribute to the understanding of early anthropoid evolution and geographic origins.
Main Methods:
- Paleontological excavation and discovery in the Krabi region of Thailand.
- Comparative anatomical analysis of the new fossil with known Eocene anthropoid genera.
- Phylogenetic inference based on shared derived characters.
Main Results:
- Discovery of a new anthropoid primate from the Late Eocene of Krabi, Thailand.
- The new fossil exhibits additional anthropoid characters compared to Burmese Eocene genera.
- The Thai fossil is comparable in size to Aegyptopithecus and shows affinities with Burmese forms.
Conclusions:
- The discovery strengthens the hypothesis of a Southeast Asian center for anthropoid evolution.
- This finding challenges the notion of an exclusively African origin for anthropoids.
- The Krabi fossil is crucial for understanding the early radiation and diversification of anthropoids.