Paleontology: Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiation

Erik R. Seiffert; Elwyn L. Simons; William C. Clyde; James B. Rossie; Yousry Attia; Thomas M. Bown; Prithijit Chatrath; Mark E. Mathison

doi:10.1126/science.1116569

Paleontology: Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiation

Erik R. Seiffert
, Elwyn L. Simons
, William C. Clyde
, James B. Rossie
, Yousry Attia
, Thomas M. Bown
, Prithijit Chatrath
, Mark E. Mathison

Anthropology

University of Oxford
Duke University
University of New Hampshire
Egyptian Geological Museum
Erathem-Vanir Geological Inc.
Iowa State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

148 Scopus citations

Abstract

Early anthropoid evolution in Afro-Arabia is poorly documented, with only a few isolated teeth known from before ∼35 million years ago. Here we describe craniodental remains of the primitive anthropoid Biretia from ∼37-million-year-old rocks in Egypt. Biretia is unique among early anthropoids in exhibiting evidence for nocturnality, but derived dental features shared with younger parapithecids draw this genus, and possibly >45-million-year-old Algeripithecus, into a morphologically and behaviorally diverse parapithecoid clade of great antiquity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	300-304
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	310
Issue number	5746
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1116569
State	Published - Oct 14 2005

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10.1126/science.1116569

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title = "Paleontology: Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiation",

abstract = "Early anthropoid evolution in Afro-Arabia is poorly documented, with only a few isolated teeth known from before ∼35 million years ago. Here we describe craniodental remains of the primitive anthropoid Biretia from ∼37-million-year-old rocks in Egypt. Biretia is unique among early anthropoids in exhibiting evidence for nocturnality, but derived dental features shared with younger parapithecids draw this genus, and possibly >45-million-year-old Algeripithecus, into a morphologically and behaviorally diverse parapithecoid clade of great antiquity.",

author = "Seiffert, \{Erik R.\} and Simons, \{Elwyn L.\} and Clyde, \{William C.\} and Rossie, \{James B.\} and Yousry Attia and Bown, \{Thomas M.\} and Prithijit Chatrath and Mathison, \{Mark E.\}",

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AU - Seiffert, Erik R.

AU - Simons, Elwyn L.

AU - Clyde, William C.

AU - Rossie, James B.

AU - Attia, Yousry

AU - Bown, Thomas M.

AU - Chatrath, Prithijit

AU - Mathison, Mark E.

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N2 - Early anthropoid evolution in Afro-Arabia is poorly documented, with only a few isolated teeth known from before ∼35 million years ago. Here we describe craniodental remains of the primitive anthropoid Biretia from ∼37-million-year-old rocks in Egypt. Biretia is unique among early anthropoids in exhibiting evidence for nocturnality, but derived dental features shared with younger parapithecids draw this genus, and possibly >45-million-year-old Algeripithecus, into a morphologically and behaviorally diverse parapithecoid clade of great antiquity.

AB - Early anthropoid evolution in Afro-Arabia is poorly documented, with only a few isolated teeth known from before ∼35 million years ago. Here we describe craniodental remains of the primitive anthropoid Biretia from ∼37-million-year-old rocks in Egypt. Biretia is unique among early anthropoids in exhibiting evidence for nocturnality, but derived dental features shared with younger parapithecids draw this genus, and possibly >45-million-year-old Algeripithecus, into a morphologically and behaviorally diverse parapithecoid clade of great antiquity.

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ER -

Paleontology: Basal anthropoids from Egypt and the antiquity of Africa's higher primate radiation

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