The skeleton of Pliopithecus (Epipliopithecus) vindobonensis Zapfe and Hürzeler

Zapfe, Helmuth

doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330160405

Cited by 62 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Quadrupedalism has also been inferred to play an important role in another well-represented Miocene catarrhine, Pliopithecus vindobonensis (Zapfe, 1958(Zapfe, , 1960Rose, 1994). Researchers have suggested, however, that other behaviors, including climbing, suspension, and leaping, contributed more to the Pliopithecus locomotor repertoire compared to that of Proconsul (Simons and Fleagle, 1973;Szalay and Delson, 1979;Fleagle, 1983;Rose, 1994;Scherf, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have been various interpretations of the locomotor behavior of Pliopithecus vindobonensis over the past fifty years. Zapfe (1958Zapfe ( , 1960 interpreted the Pliopithecus vindobonensis postcranium as representing a locomotor generalist that was not restricted to an arboreal environment and most likely moved quadrupedally on the ground as well. Szalay and Delson (1979) proposed that Pliopithecus vindobonensis engaged in a wide range of arboreal locomotor activities including suspension, leaping, climbing, and running.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These traits stabilize the elbow and wrist during loading associated with quadrupedal locomotion. Forelimb characters interpreted as indicating climbing and suspension include the shape of the humeral shaft and degree of phalangeal curvature (Zapfe 1958;Begun, 1988;Rose, 1994). Many of the suspensory traits identified in the Pliopithecus postcranium are located in the hind limb, including aspects of the proximal femur, knee, and ankle joint (Zapfe 1960;Fleagle, 1983;Langdon, 1986;Rose, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Skeletal correlates of quadrupedalism and climbing in the anthropoid forelimb: Implications for inferring locomotion in Miocene catarrhines

Rein

Harrison

Zollikofer

2011

Journal of Human Evolution

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Several well-known Miocene catarrhines, including Proconsul heseloni, have been inferred to combine quadrupedal walking in an arboreal substrate with a significant amount of climbing during locomotion. The degree to which some of these species were adapted to perform these behaviors is not fully understood due to the mosaic of 'ape-like' and 'monkey-like' traits identified in the forelimb. Given these unique combinations of forelimb features in the fossils, we report on forelimb traits that should be emphasized when investigating skeletal adaptation to quadrupedalism (defined in this manuscript as symmetrical gait movement on horizontal supports, excluding knuckle-walking) and climbing (including both vertical climbing and clambering). We investigate the correspondence between: 1) quadrupedalism and two well-known forelimb traits, humeral torsion and olecranon process length, and 2) climbing and phalangeal curvature. We also test the degree of phylogenetic signal in these relationships using phylogenetic generalized least-squares and branch length transformation methods in order to determine the models of best-fit. We present models that can be used to predict proportions of quadrupedalism and climbing in extant and extinct anthropoid taxa. Each trait-behavior correlation is significant and characterized by an absence of phylogenetic signal. Thus, we employ models assuming a star phylogeny to predict locomotor proportions. The climbing model based on phalangeal curvature and a proxy for size provides the most accurate predictions of behavior across anthropoids. The two quadrupedalism models are less accurate, but distinguish highly quadrupedal species from those that are not. Predictive equations based on these traits support the inference that P. heseloni performed a high proportion of quadrupedalism with a significant climbing component. The degree of phalangeal curvature measured in Pliopithecus vindobonensis predicts that this Miocene catarrhine species performed a proportion of climbing similar to Proconsul, while humeral torsion and olecranon process length provide conflicting inferences of quadrupedal locomotion in this species. to combine quadrupedal walking in an arboreal substrate with a significant amount of climbing during locomotion. The degree to which some of these species were adapted to perform these behaviors is not fully understood due to the mosaic of "apelike" and "monkeylike" traits identified in the forelimb. Given these unique combinations of forelimb features in the fossils, we report on forelimb traits that should be emphasized when investigating skeletal adaptation to quadrupedalism (defined in this manuscript as symmetrical gait movement on horizontal supports excluding knuckle-walking) and climbing (including both vertical climbing and clambering). We investigate the correspondence between: 1) quadrupedalism and two wellknown forelimb traits, humeral torsion and olecranon process length, and 2) climbing and phalangeal curvature. We also test the degree of phylogenetic signa...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Skeletal correlates of quadrupedalism and climbing in the anthropoid forelimb: Implications for inferring locomotion in Miocene catarrhines

Rein

Harrison

Zollikofer

2011

Journal of Human Evolution

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“…The prediction formulae were calculated from the hybrid macaques possessing three sacral vertebrae. Therefore, these formulae are designed for 'monkey-like' specimens with three or four sacral vertebrae (as per Zapfe, 1958). This purported shortcoming does not limit the utility of this study in reconstructing the tail reduction process in hominoid evolution.…”

Section: Examination Of the Applicability Of Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The index value in "reduced tail" became smaller than longer tailed species. Using this index, she also suggested that Pliopithecus (Epipliopithecus), a middle Miocene catarrhine from Europe, had a pendant "long-tail" (the index values were above those for "reduced tail" and below those for "prehensiled tail") that consisted of 10-15 caudal vertebrae (Ankel, 1965(Ankel, , 1972, though the interpretation that Pliopithecus was tailless was dominant (Zapfe, 1958). Ward et al (1991) devised a tapering index of the sacrum and applied it to the sacrum of Proconsul heseloni, an early Miocene hominoid from western Kenya, and concluded that it had lost its tail.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tail length estimation from sacrocaudal skeletal morphology in catarrhines

Tojima

2013

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Tail morphology in primates is important for interpreting functional adaptation and phylogeny. Tail length is probably the most remarkable trait. Establishing usable methods to predict the tail length of extinct primates is part of the basis for the reconstruction of primate evolution, particularly of hominoids. Previous studies revealed that sacral morphology often predicts tail length. However, most previous studies have only attempted this by using categories (short, long, etc.). A problem with those studies is that the range of short tail length is wide. Accordingly, this study aimed to quantitatively estimate tail length in catarrhines with intermediate tail lengths. Sacra and proximal caudal vertebrae (first to third) of 89 hybrid individuals between Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) and Formosan rock macaque (Macaca cyclopis) were measured. These hybrid macaques were phylogenetically controlled but varied greatly in their relative tail length (tail length/head and body length = 18.8-88.8%), and thus were an excellent sample to obtain general regression formulae to estimate catarrhine tail length. A total of 15 predicting models were devised and five formulae performed well. The utility of these formulae were confirmed by application to 15 species/subspecies of catarrhine taxa.

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Skull of Catopithecus browni, an early tertiary catarrhine

Simons

Rasmussén

1996

American J Phys Anthropol

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Fossil crania from quarry L-41, Fayum, Egypt, representing Catopithecus browni, a primate similar in size to callitrichids but with a catarrhine dental formula, provide the geologically earliest record of an anthropoidean skull. Catopithecus had postorbital closure developed to the stage seen in extant anthropoideans, with direct contact between zygomatic plate and maxillary tuber, isolating an anterior orbital fissure from the inferior orbital fissure. The auditory region also resembles that of later anthropoideans: The posterior carotid foramen is placed adjacent to the jugular fossa; a large promontory canal crosses the promontorium; and the annular ectotympanic is fused ventrally to the bulla. The incisors and canines show an assemblage of features found only among modern anthropoideans and adapoids. The face is characterized by a relatively deep maxilla, broad ascending wing of the premaxilla, and long nasal bones, yielding a moderate muzzle similar to that of Aegyptopithecus. The small braincase bears an anteriorly broad frontal trigon and a posteriorly developed sagittal crest. The mandibular symphysis is unfused even in mature adults. The encephalization quotient (EQ) probably falls within the range of Eocene prosimians, much lower than the EQs of Neogene anthropoideans.

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The skeleton of Pliopithecus (Epipliopithecus) vindobonensis Zapfe and Hürzeler

Cited by 62 publications

References 3 publications

Skeletal correlates of quadrupedalism and climbing in the anthropoid forelimb: Implications for inferring locomotion in Miocene catarrhines

Skeletal correlates of quadrupedalism and climbing in the anthropoid forelimb: Implications for inferring locomotion in Miocene catarrhines

Tail length estimation from sacrocaudal skeletal morphology in catarrhines

Skull of Catopithecus browni, an early tertiary catarrhine

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