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Variation in the shape of the palate in adapis (Eocene, Adapiformes) compared with living primates

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Human Evolution

Abstract

This study is a quantitative analysis of the variation of palate shape inAdapis, an Eocene fossil primate. The observed coefficients of variation of palate dimensions inAdapis are statistically greater than in most living primate species. The histogram of the index (palate width/palate length) emphasizes the great heterogeneity in the fossil species.

Two allometric scalings of palate dimensions (length and width) on condylobasal length were performed. Plots of perpendicular distances from the two regression lines show that living species are always more concentrated around the middle of the diagrams than isAdapis. The space occupied byAdapis is as great as, or even greater, than those occupied by living genera. Hence, several species are certainly presenent in the fossil sample, and the varieties distinguished by Stehlin in 1912, are in fact valid species names.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut des Sciences de L’Evolution, Université Montpellier II (Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc), Paléontologie Case Courrier 64 Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    L. Lanèque

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Lanèque, L. Variation in the shape of the palate in adapis (Eocene, Adapiformes) compared with living primates. Hum. Evol. 7, 1–16 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02437449

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