Dryopithecine palaeobiodiversity in the Iberian Miocene revisited on the basis of molar endostructural morphology
Fortuny, Josep (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Zanolli, Clément (Université de Bordeaux)
Bernardini, Federico (Università Ca'Foscari. Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici)
Tuniz, Claudio (Università Ca'Foscari. Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici)
Alba, David M. (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Extensive fieldwork at Abocador de Can Mata (north-east Iberian Peninsula) has uncovered a previously unsuspected diversity of catarrhine primates in the middle Miocene (12. 5-11. 6 Ma) of Europe. However, the distinction of the great ape genera Pierolapithecus and Anoiapithecus from Dryopithecus (supported by craniodental differences) has been disputed by some authors. Here we revisit the diversity of great apes (dryopithecines) from the Iberian Miocene based on molar 3D endostructural morphology (relative enamel thickness, enamel distribution, and enamel-dentine junction (EDJ)). Using microtomography, we inspected an extensive sample of 49 hominoid molars representing at least five species from 12 localities. 2D and 3D relative enamel thickness values indicate that Dryopithecus and 'Sivapithecus' occidentalis (species inquirenda) display the thinnest and thickest enamel, respectively, while the remaining taxa (Hispanopithecus, Anoiapithecus, Pierolapithecus) show intermediate values. Upper molar enamel distribution maps exhibit a similar pattern in P. catalaunicus, A. brevirostris, D. fontani, H. laietanus and H. crusafonti whereas for the lower molars they reveal differences between H. laietanus and H. crusafonti. Lower molar enamel distribution and EDJ morphology of 'S. ' occidentalis support the distinction of this species but do not resolve whether it is a junior synonym of Anoiapithecus brevirostris or Pierolapithecus catalaunicus. Overall our results support the distinction of middle Miocene dryopithecins from late Miocene hispanopithecins, the distinction of Pierolapithecus and Anoiapithecus from Dryopithecus among the former, and the distinct species status of H. crusafonti compared to H. laietanus among the latter. Our results highlight the potential of inner tooth morphology for hominoid alpha-taxonomy.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación CGL2016-76431-P Agencia Estatal de Investigación CGL2017-82654-P Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-086 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-116
Rights:	Aquest material està protegit per drets d'autor i/o drets afins. Podeu utilitzar aquest material en funció del que permet la legislació de drets d'autor i drets afins d'aplicació al vostre cas. Per a d'altres usos heu d'obtenir permís del(s) titular(s) de drets.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Fossil primates ; Hominoidea ; Dryopithecinae ; Dental morphology ; Enamel-dentine junction ; Relative enamel thickness
Published in:	Palaeontology, 2021 , ISSN 1475-4983

DOI: 10.1111/pala.12540

Postprint 68 p, 3.6 MB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles