A comparative analysis of the vestibular apparatus in Epipliopithecus vindobonensis : phylogenetic implications

dc.contributor.authorUrciuoli, Alessandro
dc.contributor.authorZanolli, Clement
dc.contributor.authorBeaudet, Amelie
dc.contributor.authorPina, Marta
dc.contributor.authorAlmecija, Sergio
dc.contributor.authorMoya-Sola, Salvador
dc.contributor.authorAlba, David M.
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-06T07:27:21Z
dc.date.issued2021-02
dc.description.abstractPliopithecoids are an extinct group of catarrhine primates from the Miocene of Eurasia. More than 50 years ago, they were linked to hylobatids due to some morphological similarities, but most subsequent studies have supported a stem catarrhine status, due to the retention of multiple plesiomorphic features (e.g., the ectotympanic morphology) relative to crown catarrhines. More recently, some morphological similarities to hominoids have been noted, raising the question of whether they could be stem members of this clade. To re-evaluate these competing hypotheses, we examine the morphology of the semicircular canals of the bony labyrinth of the middle Miocene pliopithecid Epipliopithecus vindobonensis. The semicircular canals are suitable to test between these hypotheses because (1) they have been shown to embed strong phylogenetic signal and reliably discriminate among major clades; (2) several potential hominoid synapomorphies have been identified previously in the semicircular canals; and (3) semicircular canal morphology has not been previously described for any pliopithecoid. We use a deformation-based (landmark-free) three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to compare Epipliopithecus with a broad primate sample of extant and extinct anthropoids. We quantify similarities in semicircular canal morphology using multivariate analyses, reconstruct ancestral morphotypes by means of a phylomorphospace approach, and identify catarrhine and hominoid synapomorphies based on discrete characters. Epipliopithecus semicircular canal morphology most closely resembles that of platyrrhines and Aegyptopithecus due to the retention of multiple anthropoid symplesiomorphies. However, Epipliopithecus is most parsimoniously interpreted as a stem catarrhine more derived than Aegyptopithecus due to the possession of a crown catarrhine synapomorphy (i.e., the rounded anterior canal), combined with the lack of other catarrhine and any hominoid synapomorphies. Some similarities with hylobatids and atelids are interpreted as homoplasies likely related to positional behavior. The semicircular canal morphology of Epipliopithecus thus supports the common view that pliopithecoids are stem catarrhines.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentAnatomyen_ZA
dc.description.embargo2022-01-07
dc.description.librarianhj2021en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Agencia Estatal de Investigación, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the Leakey Foundation and the Synthesys Project, which is financed by the European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/jhevolen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationUrciuoli, A., Zanolli, C., Beaudet, A. et al. et al. 2021, 'A comparative analysis of the vestibular apparatus in Epipliopithecus vindobonensis: Phylogenetic implications', Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 151, art. 102930, pp. 1-19.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0047-2484 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1095-8606 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102930
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/82957
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Human Evolution. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 151, art. 102930, pp. 1-19, 2021. doi : 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102930.en_ZA
dc.subjectPliopithecidaeen_ZA
dc.subjectCatarrhinien_ZA
dc.subjectMioceneen_ZA
dc.subjectInner earen_ZA
dc.subjectPhylogenyen_ZA
dc.subjectGeometric morphometricsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHealth sciences articles SDG-03
dc.subject.otherSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.titleA comparative analysis of the vestibular apparatus in Epipliopithecus vindobonensis : phylogenetic implicationsen_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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