Biological anthropologists from The University of Texas at Austin bring described 3 novel species of fossil primates that were previously unknown to science. All of the novel primates were residents of San Diego County at a fourth dimension when southern California was filled alongside lush tropical forests.
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| Kirk's begetter together with Austin-based creative somebody Randy Kirk produced his ain rendering of what the species might bring looked similar [Credit: Painting on marble past times Randwulph] |
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 decade later, UT Austin graduate pupil Amy Atwater together with anthropology professor Chris Kirk took upwards the challenge, describing together with naming 3 previously unknown omomyoid primates that lived 42 i G k to 46 i G k years ago. The researchers named these novel species Ekwiiyemakius walshi, Gunnelltarsius randalli together with Brontomomys cerutti.
These findings double the number of known primate genera represented inward the Friars Formation together with increment the amount number of known omomyine primates of that menses from xv to 18.
"The add-on of these primates provides for a ameliorate agreement of primate richness inward the middle Eocene," said Atwater, who is forthwith the paleontology collection managing director at the Museum of the Rockies inward Bozeman, Montana. "Previous inquiry inward the Rocky Mountain basins suggested the primate richness declined during this fourth dimension period, only nosotros debate that primate richness increased concurrently inward other locations."
Studying the teeth, researchers concluded the 3 novel genera, which stand upwards for the mass of the undescribed Friars Formation omomyoid sample at SDNHM, attain inward size from 113 to 796 grams together with are most probable related to a grouping of extinct species comprising the primate subfamily Omomyinae.
"Teeth tin country us a lot close evolutionary history together with laissez passer on us a goodness grip on the size together with diet of an extinct primate," Kirk said. "Enamel is the hardest tissue inward the body. And every bit a result, teeth are to a greater extent than probable to live on preserved inward the fossil record."
Ekwiiyemakius walshi, the smallest of the 3 novel species, was estimated to weigh betwixt 113 together with 125 grams -- comparable inward size to about modern bushbabies. It was named for Walsh, who collected together with prepared many of the specimens, together with also derives from the Native American Kumeyaay tribe's house name, Ekwiiyemak -- pregnant "behind the clouds" -- for the place of the headwaters of the San Diego together with Sweetwater Rivers.
Gunnelltarsius randalli was named for Gregg Gunnell, the researchers' belatedly colleague together with practiced on Eocene mammals, together with for SDNHM fossil collections managing director Kesler Randall. It was estimated to weigh betwixt 275 together with 303 grams, close the size of today's fat-tailed dwarf lemur.
Brontomomys cerutti was large compared alongside most other omomyoids together with was estimated to weigh betwixt 719 together with 796 grams -- close the size of a living sportive lemur. Due to its large size, its cite derives from the Greek give-and-take bront, or "thunder," every bit good every bit for Richard Cerutti, the retired SDNHM paleontologist responsible for collecting many of the Brontomomys specimens.
Atwater together with Kirk's descriptions were published inward the Journal of Human Evolution.
Source: University of Texas at Austin [August 28, 2018]
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