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A new reconstruction of RUD 77, a partial cranium of Dryopithecus brancoi from Rudabánya, Hungary
Author(s) -
Kordos László,
Begun David R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-8644(199706)103:2<277::aid-ajpa10>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - neurocranium , biology , paleontology , dentition , zoology , anatomy , geology , skull
A newly reconstructed cranium (RUD 77) of the Miocene fossil hominoid Dryopithecus, formerly Rudapithecus (Kretzoi [1969] Symp. Biol. Hung. 9: 3–11; Begun and Kordos [1993] J. Hum. Evol. 25: 271–286) is presented here. This specimen, from the late Miocene locality of Rudabánya, in northeastern Hungary, consists of portions of the neurocranium, face, and postcanine dentition. Newly recovered portions of the parietal, occipital, temporal, zygomatic, and premaxillary bones, which are described here for the first time, in association with previously described portions of this specimen (Kordos [1987] Ann. Hist. Nat. Mus. Natl. Hung. 79: 77–88) make RUD 77 among the most complete and well preserved neurocrania of any Miocene hominoid. Detailed anatomical descriptions and measurements are provided here, along with comparisons to other relatively complete Miocene hominoid cranial remains, and to living hominoids. While a more complete phylogenetic analysis is in preparation based on the sample as a whole, it is suggested here that RUD 77 provides some additional evidence in support of a previous hypothesis that Dryopithecus is more closely related to the African apes and humans than is Sivapithecus. Am J Phys Anthropol 103:277–294, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.