Ape-like locomotor adaptations in the radius of the stem catarrhine Pliobates shed light on hominoid evolution
Arias-Martorell, Julia (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Raventos-Izard, Georgina (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Monclús Gonzalo, Oriol (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Urciuoli, Alessandro (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Gamarra González, Jesús (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Nakatsukasa, Masato (Kyoto University)
Moyà Solà, Salvador (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Alba, David M. (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	The 11. 6. Ma pliopithecoid Pliobates was initially misinterpreted as a stem hominoid owing to multiple apelike postcranial features. Using 3D geometric morphometrics, we compare its radial shape with that of extant and extinct catarrhines to make locomotor inferences. The round and beveled radial head of Pliobates resembles that of modern apes, which we interpret as functionally related to efficient forearm rotation. This contrasts with its more plesiomorphic distal radius and proximal ulna, suggesting that Pliobates was more adapted for climbing than forelimb-dominated suspension and unable to perform gibbon-like ricochetal brachiation. Our results illustrate the mosaic and stepwise evolution of the catarrhine elbow and support the view that an apelike proximal radial morphology evolved multiple times as a climbing rather than suspensory adaptation. This agrees with the possibility that several features of the hominoid elbow were originally selected for climbing and subsequently co-opted for suspensory locomotion.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116908GB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-117289GB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2024-159434NB-I00 Generalitat de Catalunya 2022/SGR-00620 Generalitat de Catalunya 2022/SGR-01188 Generalitat de Catalunya CTL_0009_22_000018 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PRE2021-09911 Generalitat de Catalunya 2023/FI-3-00131
Note:	Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	iScience, Vol. 29, Num. 2 (February 2026) , art. 114622, ISSN 2589-0042

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114622

19 p, 8.0 MB

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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