Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Dryopithecus skeleton and the origins of great-ape locomotion

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

THE evolution of skeletal adaptations to orthograde postures, characteristic of extant hominoids, is of great interest as it provides the key to understanding the origins of apes and humans. We report here the recent discovery of an extraordinary partial skeleton of Dryopithecus laietanus from Can Llobateres (Spain). It provides evidence that orthograde postures and locomotion appeared at least 9.5 million years ago1. Our results indicate that the body structure of this Miocene ape closely resembles that of extant hominoids2,3 and differs from the prono-grade pattern of Miocene proconsulids4,5 in a set of important morphological characters. Dryopithecusalso shows more traits reflecting structural adaptations for suspension than occurs in African apes. A similar positional behaviour is inferred for Sivapithecus indicus, thus strengthening previous hypotheses linking both Miocene forms with Pongo6–9.

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. Agusti, J. et al. J. hum. Evol. (in the press).

  2. Erikson, G. E. Symp. zool. Soc. Land. 10, 136–164 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Andrews, P. & Groves, C. in Gibbon and Siamang 167–218 (Karger, Basel, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ward, C. V. Am. J. phys. Anthrop. 92, 291–328 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rose, M. D. J. hum. Evol. 26, 387–412 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Andrews, P. & Cronin, J. E. Nature 297, 541–546 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pilbeam, D. Nature 295, 232–234 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Moyà Solà, S. & Köhler, M. Nature 365, 543–545 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Moyà Solà, S. & Köhler, M. J. hum. Evol. 28, 101–139 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Napier, J. R. & Davis, P. R. The Fore-limb Skeleton and Associated Remains of Proconsul africanus 1–69 (British Museum Natural History, London, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hürzeler, J. Ann. Paleont. Vert. 54, 195–233 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Harrison, T. J. hum. Evol. 15, 541–583 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jungers, W. L. J. hum. Evol. 16, 445–456 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sanders, W. J. & Bodenbender, B. E. J. hum. Evol. 26, 203–238 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ward, C. V., Walker, A., Teaford, M. F. & Odhiambo, I. Am. J. phys. Anthrop. 90, 77–111 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jungers, W. L. J. hum. Evol. 16, 445–456 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jungers, W. L. in Body Size in Mammalian Paleobiology. Estimation and Biological Implications (eds Damuth, J. & MacFadden, B. J.) 107–118 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Aiello, L. Symp. zool. Soc. Lond. 48, 331–358 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jungers, W. L. in Size and Scaling in Primate Biology (ed. Jungers, W.) 345–381 (Plenum, New YorK, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Jungers, W. L. Yb. phys. Anthrop. 27, 73–97 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Preuschoft, H. in Gravity, Posture and Locomotion in Primates (eds Jouffroy, F. K., Stack, M. H. & Niemitz, C.) 109–127 (II Sedicesimo, Firenze, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Jungers, W. L. in The Lesser Apes; Evolutionary and Behavioural Biology (eds Preuschoft, H., Brockelman, W. & Creel, N. 146–169 (Edinburgh Univ. Press, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Begun, D. R. Science 257, 1929–1933 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Begun, D. R. Yb. phys. Anthrop. 37, 11–63 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pilbeam, D., Rose, M. D., Barry, J. C. & Ibrahim Shah, S. M. Nature 348, 237–239 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Pilbeam, D. & Simons, E. Nature 229, 408–409 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kelley, J. & Pilbeam, D. in Comparative Primate Biology (eds Swindler. D. R. & Erwin, J.) 316–411 (Liss, New York, 1986).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ruff, C. B., Walker, A. & Teaford, M. F. J. hum. Evol. 18, 515–536 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Ruff, C. B. in Body Size in Mammalian Paleobioiogy. Estimation and Biological Implications (eds Damuth, J. & MacFadden, J.) 119–149 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1990).

    Google Scholar 

  30. McHenry, E. M. Am. J. phys. Anthrop. 87, 407–431 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, c/lndustrial, 23, 08201, Sabadell, Spain

    Salvador Moyà-Solà & Meike Köhler

Authors
  1. Salvador Moyà-Solà
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meike Köhler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moyà-Solà, S., Köhler, M. A Dryopithecus skeleton and the origins of great-ape locomotion. Nature 379, 156–159 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/379156a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/379156a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation