| Anoiapithecus Fossil range: Miocene, 12 Ma | |
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 Artist's resoration of lluc. | |
| Scientific classification
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Order |
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Superfamily |
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Family |
Dryopithecidae† |
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Genus |
Anoiapithecus |
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Anoiapithecus is an extinct genus of ape thought to be closely related to Dryopithecus. Both genera lived during the Miocene, approximately 12 million years ago. The fossil specimens named by Salvador Moyà-Solà as Anoiapithecus brevirostris are known from deposits from Spain.[1]
The discoverers describe Anoiapithecus brevirostris as a hominoid (superfamily Hominoidea) in the Dryopithecine tribe. They believe that it has more modern traits then the Kenyapithecines from which Kenyapithecus wickeri from Kenya brings fragmentary information. The African specimens are considered a sister taxon to the hominids, and 2 million year younger European specimens must be from after the time that these two groups split. This means that hominids may have evolved in Europe.[2]
The name comes from the Anoia River region in Catalonia, where the fossil was found. It has been given the nickname Lluc, (since it is a male individual). This name stems from the fact that Lluc in Latin means "the one iluminati" and this discovery somehow enlighted dark knowledge about our early evolution[3]
The modern anatomical features that characterized the family Hominidae visible in Lluc's fossil among others are: unique facial pattern for hominoids, nasal aperture wide at the base, high zygomatic rood, deep palate.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b Moyà-Solà, S.; et al. (2009). "A unique Middle Miocene European hominoid and the origins of the great ape and human clade". PNAS Forthcoming. doi:.
- ^ "Did first hominids live in Europe?". New Scientist: p. 17. 6 June 2009. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227116.000-did-first-hominids-live-in-europe.html.
- ^ http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/uadb-rft060209.php 'the official' Public release date: 2-Jun-2009.