Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Taxonomy, age and environment status of the Yuanmou hominoids

  • Articles
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The taxonomy, age and environment status of the Yuanmou hominoids had been controversial since their discovery. We launched new excavations and investigations in the Yuanmou Basin and analyzed both old and newly collected data. We conclude that all hominoids from the Yuanmou Basin and the so-called Pliocene hominids can be attributed into a single species, and its valid nomination is Lufengpithecus hudienensis. It is different from Lufengpithecus lufengensis and Lufengpithecus keiyuanensis. Based on the faunal comparison and paleomagnetic correlation, the strata yielding the Yuanmou hominoids are older than those of Lufeng hominoids and younger than those of the Kaiyuan hominoids. The age of the Yuanmou hominoids is Late Miocene. The environments of the Yuanmou hominoids were subtropical, hilly, with some dense forestry and partial transitional bushes and seasonal climate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Woo, J. K., Dryopithecus teeth from Keiyuan, Yunnan Province, Vert PalAs, 1957, 1(1): 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Woo, J. K., New materials of Dryopithecus from Keiyuan, Yunnan, Vert PalAs, 1958, 2(1): 38–43.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Xu, Q. H., Lu, Q. W., Pan, Y. R. et al., The fossil mandible of Ramapithecus lufengensis, Kexue Tongbao, 1978, 23(9): 554–556.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lu, Q. W., Xu, Q. H., Zheng, L., Preliminary research on the cranium of Sivapithecus yunnanensi, Vert PalAs, 1981, 19(2): 101–106.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang, X. Y., Lin, Y. P., Jiang, C. et al., A new species of Ramapithecus from Yuanmou, Yunnan Province, Sixiangzhanxian, 1987, (3): 54–56.

  6. Jiang, N. R., Sun, R., Liang, Q. Z., The discovery of Yuanmou early ape man teeth fossils and their significance, J, Yunnan Geol., 1987, 6(2): 157–162.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang, X. Y., Lin, Y. P., Jiang, C. et al., A new species of Homo from Yuanmou, Yunnan, Sixiangzhanxian, 1987, (3): 57–60.

  8. Zhang, X. Y., Zheng, L., Gao, F., New genus Sinopithecus and its anthropological significance, Sixiangzhanxian, 1990, (2): 53–58.

  9. Zheng, L., Zhang, X. Y., Hominoid Fossils, Yuanmou Hominoid Fauna (ed. He, Z. Q.), Kunming: Yunnan Science & Technology Press, 1997, 21–60.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zhou, G. X., A study of fossil hominid and cultural remains in Yuanmou Basin, in Collected Works for “The 30th Anniversary of Yuanmou Man Discovery and the International Conference on Palaeoanthropological Studies” (eds. Cheng, J., Jiang, Z., Ji, X.), Kunming: Yunnan Science & Technology Press, 1998, 203–227.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Harrison, T., Ji, X., Su, D., On the systematic status of the Late Neogene hominoids from Yunnan Province, China, J. Hum. Evol., 2002, 43: 207–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zong, G. F., The Neogene strata of the Yuanmou Basin, Yunnan, J. Stratigraphy, 1996, 20(2): 138–145.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Qian, F., Determination of geological age, in Yuanmou Hominoid Fauna (ed. He, Z. Q.), Kunming: Yunnan Science & Technology Press, 1997, 161–178.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wu, R. K., A revision of the classification of the Lufeng great apes, Acta Anthrop. Sin., 1987, 6(4): 265–271.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Chaimanee, Y., Suteethorn, V., Jintasakul, P. et al., A new orang-utan relative from the Late Miocene of Thailand, Nature, 2004, 427, 439–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kelley, J., The hominoid radiation in Asia, in The Primate Fossil Record (ed. Hartwig, W. C.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, 369–384.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jiang, C., Xiao, L., Li, J. M., Hominoid teeth fossil from Leilao, Yuanmou, Yunnan, Acta Anthrop. Sinica, 1993, 12(2): 97–102.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Liu, W., Zheng, L., Jiang, C., Statistical analyses of metric data of hominoid teeth found in Yuanmou of China, Chinese Science Bulletin, 1999, 45(10): 936–942.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Liu, W., Zheng, L., Walker, A., Three-dimensional morphometric analyses of hominoid lower molars from Yunnan Province, China, Acta Anthrop. Sinica, 2001, 20(3): 163–177.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zhao, L. X., Zheng, L., Gao, F., Jiang, C., Study on enamel microstructure of Yuanmou hominoid, Science in China, Ser. D, 2002, 32(11): 921–927.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zong, G. F., Primary correlation of Yuanmou hominoid fauna and discussion of relative problems, in Yuanmou Hominoid Fauna (ed. He, Z. Q.), Kunming: Yunnan Science & Technology Press, 1997, 122–131.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dong, W., Miocene mammalian fauna of Xiaolongtan, Kaiyuan, Yunnan Province, Vert PalAs, 1987, 25(2): 116–123.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dong, W., Upper Cenozoic stratigraphy and paleoenvironment of Xiaolongtan Basin, Kaiyuan, Yunnan Province, in Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meetings of Chinese Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (eds. Deng, T., Wang, Y.), Beijing: China Ocean Press, 2001, 91–100.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ni, X. J., Qiu, Z. D., The micromammalian fauna from the Leilao, Yuanmou hominoid locality: Implication for Biochronology and Paleoecology, J. Hum. Evol., 2002, 42: 535–546.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Qi, G. Q., Stratigraphic summarization of Ramapithecus fossil locality, Lufeng, Yunnan, Acta Anthrop. Sinica, 1985, 4(1): 55–69.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Flynn, L. J., Qi, G., Age of the Lufeng, China, hominoid locality, Nature, 1982, 298: 746–747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Badgley, C., Qi, G., Chen, W. et al., Paleoecology of a Miocene, tropical, upland fauna: Lufeng, China, Nat. Geogr. Res., 1988, 4: 178–196.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yue, L., Zhang, Y. X., Qi, G. Q. et al., Paleomagnetic age and palaeobiological significance of hominoid fossil strata of Yuanmou Basin in Yunnan, Science in China, Ser. D, 2004, 47: 405–411.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhu, R. X., Liu, Q. S., Yao, H. T. et al., Magnetostratigraphic dating of hominoid-bearing sediments at Zhupeng, Yuanmou Basin, southwestern China, EPSL, 2005, 236: 559–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Cande, S. C., Kent, D. V., Revised calibration of the geomagnetic polarity timescale for the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, J. Geophys. Res., 1995, 100: 6093–6095.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Andrews, P., Paleoecology of Miocene fauna from Pasala, Turkey, J. Hum. Evol., 1990, 19: 569–582.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Han, D. F., The Artiodactyla of Ramapithecus Site, Lufeng, Yunnan, Acta Anthrop. Sinica, 1985, 4(1): 44–54.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Dong, W., Liu, J. H., Pan, Y. R., A new Euprox from the Late Miocene of Yuanmou, Yunnan Province, China, with interpretation of its paleoenvironment, Chinese Science Bulletin, 2003, 48(5): 485–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Bubenik, A., Epigenetical, morphological, physiological, and behavioral aspects of evolution of horns, prohorns and antlers, in Horns, Prohorns and Antlers (eds. Bubenik, G. A., Bubenik, A. B.), New York: Springer-Verlag, 1990, 1–113.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bubenik, A., Evolution of cranial protuberances of Cervoids from velericorn stage into annually deciduous antlers, in Deer of China, (eds. Ohtaishi, N., Sheng, H. L.), Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers B V, 1993, 44–55.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100044, China

    Qi Guoqin, Dong Wei & Zhao Lingxia

  2. Yunnan Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute, Kunming, 650118, China

    Zheng Liang & Gao Feng

  3. Key Laboratory for Continental Dynamics of the Ministry of Education of China, Geology Department, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China

    Yue Leping & Zhang Yunxiang

Authors
  1. Qi Guoqin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dong Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zheng Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhao Lingxia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gao Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yue Leping
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhang Yunxiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qi Guoqin.

About this article

Cite this article

Qi, G., Dong, W., Zheng, L. et al. Taxonomy, age and environment status of the Yuanmou hominoids. CHINESE SCI BULL 51, 704–712 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-0704-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-0704-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation