Description:
Fossil primates have been known from the late middle to late Eocene Pondaung Formation of
Myanmar since the description of Pondaungia cotteri in 1927. Three additional primate taxa,
Amphipithecus mogaungensis, Bahinia pondaungensis and Myanmarpithecus yarshensis, were
subsequently described. These primates are represented mostly by fragmentary dental and cranial
remains. Here we describe the first primate postcrania from Myanmar, including a complete left
humerus, a fragmentary right humerus, parts of left and right ulnae, and the distal half of a left
calcaneum, all representing one individual. We assign this specimen to a large species of
Pondaungia based on body size and the known geographic distribution and diversity of Myanmar
primates. Body weight estimates of Pondaungia range from 4,000 to 9,000 g, based on humeral
length, humeral midshaft diameter, and tooth area by using extant primate regressions. The humerus
and ulna indicate that Pondaungia was capable of a wide variety of forelimb movements, with great
mobility at the shoulder joint. Morphology of the distal calcaneus indicates that the hind feet were
mobile at the transverse tarsal joint. Postcrania of Pondaungia present a mosaic of features, some
shared in common with notharctine and adapine adapiforms, some shared with extant lorises and
cebids, some shared with fossil anthropoids, and some unique. Overall, Pondaungia humeral and
calcaneal morphology is most consistent with that of other known adapiforms. It does not support
the inclusion of Pondaungia in Anthropoidea
Source/publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA (PNAS): Vol. 98, No. 14, 76727677, July 3, 2001
Date of Publication:
2001-07-03
Date of entry:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
320 KB