Dryopithecine palaeobiodiversity in the Iberian Miocene revisited on the basis of molar endostructural morphology

Extensive fieldwork at Abocador de Can Mata (NE 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 ...

在伊比利亚半岛东北部的Abocador de Can Mata遗址开展的大规模野外工作，揭示了欧洲中中新世（1250万至1160万年前）一段此前未被认知的狭鼻类灵长动物多样性。然而，部分学者对基于颅齿差异提出的大猿属Pierolapithecus、Anoiapithecus与Dryopithecus的区分持争议态度。本文基于臼齿三维内部结构形态（相对釉质厚度、釉质分布及釉牙本质界[enamel-dentine junction, EDJ]），重新探讨伊比利亚中新世大猿（干猿类）的多样性。借助显微断层扫描技术，我们对来自12个地点、代表至少5个物种的49枚人猿超科臼齿样本进行了全面检视。二维及三维相对釉质厚度值显示，Dryopithecus与"西瓦古猿" occidentalis（存疑种）分别呈现最薄与最厚的釉质，而其余类群（Hispanopithecus、Anoiapithecus、Pierolapithecus）则表现出中等厚度值。上颌臼齿...