The dietary adaptations of European Miocene catarrhines.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

European Miocene "apes" have been known for nearly a century and a half but their phylogenetic significance is only now becoming apparent with the recent discovery of many relatively complete remains. Some appear to be close in time and morphology to the last common ancestor of modern great apes and humans. The current study is an attempt to reconstruct the diets of these fossils on the basis of quantitative data. Results suggest that these primates varied more greatly in their diets than modern apes, with adaptations ranging from hard-object feeding to soft-object frugivory to folivory.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Ungar, PS; Kay, RF

Published Date

  • June 1995

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 92 / 12

Start / End Page

  • 5479 - 5481

PubMed ID

  • 7777533

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC41718

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1091-6490

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.92.12.5479

Language

  • eng