Scientists have reconstructed the well-preserved skull of a European great ape, which may have been the first ancestor of the human species, using CT scans.
The researchers say their results are consistent with the idea that this species represents one of the oldest members of the human and great ape families.
species, Pierolapithecus catalonicusIt is one of a group of ape species that are now extinct and lived in Europe between 15 and 7 million years ago.
The researchers hope to learn more about human evolution from the remains, as they found a skull and partial skeleton of the same individual, which is rare.
Researchers used CT scans to reconstruct the skull (American Museum of Natural History). This species also had distinctive facial features not found in other apes of the same period (PA). Could monkeys be our closest ancestors? (Palestinian Authority)
“One of the persistent problems in the study of great apes and human evolution is that the fossil record is fragmented, and many specimens are incompletely preserved and misshapen,” said Ashley Hammond, associate curator and head of the Department of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History . ‘
“This makes it difficult to reach a consensus on the evolutionary relationships of fossil primate apes that are important for understanding the evolution of apes and humans.”
Its remains were first discovered in Catalonia, Spain, in 2002, and first published in the journal Science in 2004.
Scientists found parts of the skull, along with other bones such as the spine, ribs, and parts of the hand and pelvis.
An 8.7 million year old ape skull suggests that our ancestors evolved in Europe, not Africa
“Skull and tooth characteristics are critical in resolving the evolutionary relationships of fossil species,” said lead author Kelsey Pugh, a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History.
“When we find this material associated with skeletal remains, it gives us the opportunity not only to accurately place the species on the human family tree, but also to learn more about the animal’s biology in terms of, for example, how it moved in the environment.”
Previous research on this species showed that it had an upright body, and adaptations meant it could hang from tree branches and move from tree to tree.
However, scientists differ regarding the ape’s position in the evolutionary tree, due to damage to the skull.
The researchers used CT scans to reconstruct the Pyrrholapithecus skull and compare it with other primate species.
The researchers found that Peyrolapithecus was similar in general facial shape and size to fossil and living great apes.
Pierolapithecus is similar in general facial shape and size to both fossilized and living great apes
This species also has distinctive facial features not found in other apes of the same period.
“An interesting result of the evolutionary modeling in this study is that the Peyrolapithecus skull was similar in shape and size to its great ape ancestors,” said co-author Sergio Almesija, senior research scientist in the Museum’s Department of Museums. Anthropology. And human evolution.
This research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
2023-10-16 21:20:25
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