First discovery of postcranial bones of Ouranopithecus macedoniensis (Primates, Hominoidea) from the late Miocene of Macedonia (Greece)

Abstract

Two well preserved phalanges, one proximal and one intermediate, are identified and described. They constitute the first postcrania ever described of Ouranopithecus macedoniensis (Primates, Hominoidea) from the late Miocene locality of Ravin de la Pluie (RPl), Macedonia (Greece). They are isolated specimens, and the only ones known for their genus. The hypotheses that these specimens derive either from the hand or from the foot were tested. Comparisons with living apes of known positional behaviour were made to assess the functional signal in these specimens. The proximal phalanx, either manual or pedal, closely matches the proximal phalanges of terrestrial quadrupedal primates or the bipedal primate Homo. With respect to the intermediate phalanx we show that it closely matches phalanges of quadrupedal terrestrial primates. The terrestriality of Ouranopithecus, here reconstructed from phalangeal remains, is in agreement with our previous results of dental studies (thick check teeth enamel and microwear pattern of incisors and molars), which indicate that it was a hard object feeder living near the ground.

Keywords: Bipedalism; Hands and feet; Hominid origins; Phalanges; Positional behaviour; Terrestrial quadrupedalism.