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Paleoprimatological research over the last 50 years: Foci and trends
Author(s) -
Simons Elwyn,
Covert H. H.
Publication year - 1981
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/ajpa.1330560409
Subject(s) - primate , context (archaeology) , morphology (biology) , multidisciplinary approach , interpretation (philosophy) , nonhuman primate , geography , evolutionary biology , history , zoology , biology , paleontology , sociology , social science , computer science , programming language
Since 1930 the approach to fossil primates has undergone a twofold revolution, in more advanced taxonomic thinking, and in the growth of studies relating living primates to the interpretation of past forms. Great strides have also been made in discovering primate fossils–in 1930 there were some 58 genera of extinct primates known, and since then more than 65 new genera have been named. A major aspect of paleoprimatological research today is multidisciplinary field projects, which have accounted for a fuller understanding of dating and context. The application of functional morphology to aspects of primate evolution has allowed better understanding of primate locomotion, diet, and behavior.