Pierolapithecus was first described in 2004, when a partial skeleton and facial skull were found in a garbage dump on the outskirts of Barcelona, ​​Spain. This specimen, which is over 12 million years old, was found along with two other extinct monkey species: Dryopithecus and Anoiapithecus. The research team’s initial assessment of Pierolapithecus and its skeleton, based on “primitive ape-like” features indicating that the ape may have assumed an upright position, revealed that the specimen was closely related to the last common ancestor of great apes and humans.

Reconstruction

In the new study, the team performed CT scans of the fossil skull to virtually reconstruct it and better compare the specimen with other known hominids.

The features of the skull and teeth are extremely important in elucidating the evolutionary relationships of fossil species. When we find this material along with the bones from the rest of the skeleton, it not only helps us determine the species’ place in the hominid lineage, but also allows us to learn more about the animal’s biology, such as how it moved within itself. environment,
– says Kelsey Pugh from the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The ability to assume a vertical position suggests that Pierolapithecus was able to hang on branches and move, like many other hominids. This was known before, but the condition of the petrified skull did not allow us to understand at what taxonomic level the monkey was. After that CT scan of skull taken and practically put back togetherResearchers were able to compare Pierolapithecus with other known hominids.

“One of the ongoing problems in studying the evolution of great apes and humans is that the fossil record is fragmentary and many specimens are incompletely preserved or distorted., said study co-author Ashley Hammond. – This makes it difficult to reach consensus on the evolutionary relationships of key fossil apes important for understanding the evolution of great apes and humans.“.

Additionally, based on evolutionary modeling using newly measured skull features, the team identified some facial features of the last common ancestor of intelligent humans and Pierolapithecus. The team writes: “It was generally different from all extant hominids and fossil hominids and was similar to Perolapithecus in many features.”“. But our last common ancestor is still unknown.