Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Postcranial Anatomy and the Origin of the Anthropoidea

  • Chapter
Anthropoid Origins

Part of the book series: Advances in Primatology ((AIPR))

Abstract

One of the major unresolved problems in the phylogeny of primate higher taxa is the origin and relationships of Anthropoidea. Several hypotheses are currently in contention, two of which entail the idea of descent from the Eocene euprimate families Adapidae and Omomyidae. The idea that omo-myids or tarsiers are the stem group for anthropoids is based primarily on characters of the narial region and placentation shared by Tarsius (a presumed descendant of omomyids) and anthropoids (Hill, 1919; Luckett, 1975; Pocock, 1918); features of middle ear construction and arterial circulation (Cartmill and Kay, 1978; Cartmill et al., 1981; Szalay, 1975); and the relationship of the interorbital septum to the nasal fossa (Cartmill, 1972; Cave, 19(57) shared by tarsiers, omomyids, and anthropoids. This hypothesis will be abbreviated as OA. The evidence for a phyletic relationship between adapids and anthropoids (AA) rests primarily on features of the dentition shared by adapids and anthropoids (Gingerich, 1980; Rasmussen and Simons, 1988; Simons and Rasmussen, 1989) and shared features of the basicranial region of Mahgarita and anthropoids (Rasmussen, 1990).

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Harnett, C. II., and Napier, J. R. 1953. The rotatory ability of the fibula in eutherian mammals.J. Anat. 87:11–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard, K. C. 1991. Vertical postures and climbing in the morphotype of primatomorpha: Implications for locomotor evolution in primate history. In: Y. Coppens and B. Senut (eds), Origine(s) de la Bipedie chez les Hominides (Cahiers de Paléoanthropologie), pp. 79–87. CNRS, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard, K. C., Dagosto, M., Gebo, D. L., and Godinot, M. 1988. Interrelationships among primate higher taxa. Nature 331:712–714.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beard, K. C., and Ciodinot, M. 1988. Carpal anatomy of Smilodectes gracilis (Adapiformes, Notli- arctinae) and its significance for lemuriform phylogeny. J. Hum. Evol. 17:71–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beard, K. C., Qi, T., Dawson, M. R., Wang, B., and Li, C. 1994. A diverse new primate fauna from middle Eocene fissure-fillings in southeastern China. Nature 368:604–009.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carleton, A. 1941. A comparative study of the inferior tibio-fibular joint. J. Anat. 76:45–55.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cartmill, M. 1972. Arboreal adaptations and the origin of the Order Primates. In: R. Tuttle (ed.), The Functional and evolutionary Biology of Primates, pp. 97–122. Aldine-Atherton, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartmill, M., and Kay, R. F. 1978. Cranio-dental morphology, tarsier affinities and primate suborders. In: D. J. Chivers and K. A. Joysey (eds), Recent Advances in Primatology, pp. 205–213. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartmill, M., MacPhee, R. D. F., and Simons, F. L. 1981. Anatomy of the temporal bone in early anthropoids. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 56:3–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cave, A. J. F. 1967. Observations on the platyrrhine nasal fossa. Am. j. Phys. Anthropol. 26:277–288.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Covert, H. H. 1985. Adaptations and evolutionary relationships of the Eocene primate family Northarctidae. Ph.D. dissertation, Duke University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Covert, H. H. 1988. Ankle and foot morphology of Cantimmckennai: Adaptationsand phylogenetic implications. J. Hum. Evol. 17:57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covert, H. H, and Ilamrick, M. W. 1993. Description of new skeletal remains of the Early Eocene Anaptomorphine Primate Ahsarohius (Omomyidae) and a discussion of its adaptive profile. J. Hum. Evol. 25:351–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagosto, M. 1983. Postcranium of Adapis parisiensis and Leptadapis magnus (Adapiformes, Primates). Fol. Primatol. 41:49–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagosto, M. 1985. The distal tibia of primates with special reference to the Omomyidae. Int. J. Primatol. 6:45–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagosto, M. 1986. The joints of the tarsus in the Strepsirhine primates. Ph.D. dissertation, City University of New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagosto, M. 1988. Implications of postcranial evidence for the origin of Euprimates. J. Hum. Evol. 17:35–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dagosto, M. 1990. Models for the origin of the anthropoid postcranium. J. Hum. Evol. 19:121–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donoghue, M.; Doyle, j. A., Gauthier, J., and Kluge, A. G. 1989. The importance of fossils in phylogeny reconstruction. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 20:43–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felsenstein, J. 1985. Confidence limits on phylogenies: an approach using the bootstrap. Evolution 39:783–791.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, S. M. 1980. A systematic revision of the Platyrrhini based on features of the postcranium. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, S. M. 1986. Systematics of the New World Monkeys. In: D. R. Swindler and J. Erwin (eds.), Comparative Primate Biology, pp. 73–135. Alan R. Fiss, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, S. M. 1988. Postcranial adaptations of the earliest platyrrhine. J. Hum. Evol. 17:155–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F ranzen, J. L. 1987. Fin neuer Primate aus dem Mitteleozän der Grube Messel (Deutschland, S.-FIessen). Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckcnherg 91:151–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • F ranzen, J. L. 1988. Ein weiterer Primatenfund aus der Grube Messel bei Darmstadt. Cour. Forsch. Inst. Senckenberg 107:275–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebo, D. L. 1986. The anatomy of the prosimian foot and its application to the primate fossil record. Ph.D. dissertation, Duke University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebo, D. L. 1988. Foot morphology and locomotor adaptation in Eocene Primates. Fol. Primatol. 50:3–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gebo, D. L., Dagosto, M., and Rose, K. D. 1991. Foot morphology and evolution in early Eocene Cantius Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 86:51–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gingerich, P. D. 1975. A new genus of Adapidae (Mammalia, Primates) from the late Eocene of Southern France, and its significance for the origin of higher primates. Contrib. Mus. Pal. Univ. Michigan 24:163–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gingerich, P. D. 1980. Eocene Adapidae, paleobiogeography, and the origin of South American Platyrrhini. In: R. L. Giochon and A. B. Ghiarelli (eds.), Evolutionary Biology of the New World Monkeys and Continental Drift, pp. 123–138. Plenum Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Godinot, M., and Dagosto, M. 1983. The astragalus of Necrolemur (Primates, Microchoerinae). J. Paleontol. 57:1321–1324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godinot, M., and Mahboubi, M. 1992. Earliest known simian primate found in Algeria. Nature 357:324–326.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, W. K. 1920. On the structure and relations of Notharctus: An American Eocene primate. Mem. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 3:51–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T. 1987. The phylogenetic relationships of the early catarrhine primates: A review of the current evidence. J. Hum. Evol. 16:41–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hecht, M. K., and Edwards, J. L. 1977. The methodology of phylogenetic inference above the species level. In: M. K. Hecht, P. Goody, and B. Hecht (eds.), Major Patterns of Vertebrate Evolution, pp. 3–51. Plenum Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hershkovitz, P. 1988. The subfossil monkey femur and subfossil monkey tibia of the Antilles: A review. Int. J. Primatol. 9:365–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J. P. 1919. The affinities of Tarsius from the embryological aspect. Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud. 1919:476–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenigswald, W. von. 1979. Ein Lemurenreste aus dem eozänen Ölschiefer der Grube Messel bei Darmstadt. Palaont. Z. 53:63–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckett, W. P. 1975. Ontogeny of the fetal membranes and placenta: Their bearing on primate phylogeny. In: W. P. Luckett and F. S. Szalay (eds.), Phylogeny of the Primates, pp. 157–182. Plenum Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Neff, N. A. 1986. A rational basis for a priori character weighting. Syst. Zool. 35:110–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pocock, R. I. 1918. On the external characters of the lemurs and of Tarsius. Proc. Zool Soc. Lond. 1918:19–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, D. T 1990. The phylogenetic position of Mahgarita stevensi: Protoanthropoid or lemuroid. Int. J. Primatol. 11:439–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, D. T, and Simons, E. L. 1988. New specimens oiOligopithecus savagei, early Oligocene primate from the Fayum, Egypt. Fol. Primatol. 51:182–208.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Remane, A. 1956. Die Grundlagen des natürlichen Systems, der vergleichenden Anatomie und der Phylogenetik. Geest und Portig, Leipzig.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberger, A. L., and . 3Dagosto, M. 1992. New craniodental and postcranial evidence of fossil tarsiiforms. In: S. Matano, R. H. Tuttle, H. Ishida, and M. Goodman (eds.), Topics in Primatology, Vol. , pp. 37–51. University of Kyoto Press, Kyoto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberger, A. L., and Szalay, F. S. 1980. On the tarsiiform origins of the anthropoidea. In: R. L. Ciochan and A. B. Ghiarelli (eds.), Evolutionary Biology of New World Monkeys and Continental Drift, pp. 139–157. Plenum Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Savage, D. E., and Waters, B. T. 1978. A new omomyid primate from the Wasatch formation of southern Wyoming. Fol. Primatol. 30:1–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, M. 1907. Bietrag zur Osteologie und systematischen Stellung der Gattung Necrolemur, sowie zur Stammesgeschicte der Primaten überhaupt. Neues Jb. Miner. Ceol. Palaont. Mh. 1907:199–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, P. 1979. Evidence of microchoerine evolution from Dielsdorf (Zurich region, Switzerland)—a preliminary report. Fol. Primatol. 31:301–311.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, P. 1992. Leaping adaptation in Eocene primates. In: Abstracts of the XIVth Congress of the International Primatological Society, p. 71. International Primatological Society, Strasbourg, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simons, E. L., and Rasmussen, D. T. 1989. Cranial morphology of Aegyptopithecus and Tarsius and the question of the Tarsier—Anthropoidean clade. Am. J. Pkys. Anthropol. 79:1–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, G. G. 1940. Studies on the earliest primates. Bull. Am. Mils. Nat. Hist. 77:185–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, G. G. 1961. Principles of Animal Taxonomy. Columbia University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swofford, D. L. 1991. PAUP: Phyogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony, Version 3.0., Champaign, Illinois.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szalay, F. S. 1975. Phylogeny of primate higher taxa: The basicranial evidence. In: W. P. Luckett and F. S. Szalay (eds.), Phylogeny of the Primates, pp. 91–125. Plenum Press, New York.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Szalay, F. S. 1976. Systematics of the Omomyidae (Tarsiiformes, Primates): Taxonomy, phylogeny, and adaptations. Bull. Am. Mns. Nat. Hist. 156:157–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szalay, F. S. 1977. Ancestors, descendants, sister groups and testing of phylogenetic hypotheses. Syst. Zool. 26:12–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szalay, F. S., and Bock, W.J. 1991. Evolutionary theory and systematics: relationships between process and patterns. Z. Zool. Syst. Evol. Forsch. 29:1–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szalay, F. S., and Dagosto, M. 1980. Locomotor adaptations as reflected on the humerus of Paleogene primates. Fol. Primatol. 34:1–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thalmann, U., Haubold, H., and Martin, R. D. 1989. Pronycticebus neglectus— an almost complete adapid primate specimen from the Geiseltal (GDR). Palaeovertebrata 19:115–130.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA

    Marian Dagosto

  2. Department of Mammalogy, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, 10024, USA

    Marian Dagosto

  3. Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, 60115, DeKalb, Illinois, USA

    Daniel L. Gebo

Authors
  1. Marian Dagosto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniel L. Gebo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    John G. Fleagle

  2. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Richard F. Kay

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dagosto, M., Gebo, D.L. (1994). Postcranial Anatomy and the Origin of the Anthropoidea. In: Fleagle, J.G., Kay, R.F. (eds) Anthropoid Origins. Advances in Primatology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9197-6_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9197-6_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9199-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9197-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation