Cranial Anatomy of Shoshonius and the Antiquity of Anthropoidea

摘要: Although most, if not. all, modern systematists agree that the living anthropoid or simiiform primates (New and Old World monkeys, apes, humans) constitute a natural, monophyletic assemblage, there is widespread disagreement over whether not certain fossil forms should be included in this taxon. Unfortunately, all of reflects morphological ambiguity such poorly known taxa as Hoanghonius stehlini, Amphi-pithecus mogaungensis, Pondaungia cotteri, Afrotarsius chatrathi. Rather, it at least partly result different notions regarding how taxon Anthropoidea defined. Obviously, major prerequisite for understanding origin early evolutionary history any group organisms theoretically sound definition what actually constitutes under investigation. Without type formal definition, great deal time effort can wasted by investigators talking past one another about semantic issues are largely irrelevant to actual topic debate.