Scientists have discovered an extremely rare juvenile cranium fossil of an ancient Chinese ape.
Juvenile fossils of the Lufengpithecus are hard to come by, in part because the apes had become extinct in most of Eurasia during the time period 23-25 million years ago, a Penn State press release reported via ScienceDaily.
The fossil, which dates back to the end of the Miocene, is only the second complete juvenile hominid cranial fossil from its era.
"The preservation of the new cranium is excellent, with only minimal post-depositional distortion. This is important because all previously discovered adult crania of the species to which it is assigned, Lufengpithecus lufengensis, were badly crushed and distorted during the fossilization process. In living ape species, cranial anatomy in individuals at the same stage of development as the new fossil cranium already show a close resemblance to those of adults," Nina Jablonski, Professor of Anthropology at Penn State, said.
The researchers believe this specimen gives them the best-ever look at the ancient ape's anatomy.
"Partly because of where and when Lufengpithecus lived, it is considered by most to be in the lineage of the extant orangutan, now confined to Southeast Asia but known from the late Pleistocene of southern China as well," Jablonski said.
Upon examining the fossil, the researchers found it held no resemblance an orangutan's skull, and shows none of the required "key diagnostic features."
The scientists believe the Lufengpithecus is a later member of the Eurasian ape clan, but have not yet made a definite connection.
The team was not surprised to make this connection, as the climate in southern China in the later Miocene was "deterirotating," which led to the demise of a large number of primates.
The team plans to perform further research on the subject, a Penn State press release reported.
"In addition to the ape, we have recovered hundreds of specimens of other animals and plants," co-author Dr. Denise Su, Curator of Paleobotany and Paleoecology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, said. "We are looking forward to going back to Shuitangba next year to continue fieldwork and, hopefully, find more specimens of not only the ape but other animals and plants that will tell us more about the environment. Given what we have recovered so far, Shuitangba has great potential to help us learn more about the environment in the latest part of the Miocene in southern China and the evolution of the plants and animals found there
