Adapis

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Adapis
Temporal range: Bartonian-Priabonian, [1] 41.3–33.9  Ma
Adapis parisiensis.jpg
Adapis parisiensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Strepsirrhini
Family:† Adapidae
Subfamily:† Adapinae
Genus:† Adapis
Cuvier, 1822
Type species
†Adapis parisiensis
Cuvier, 1821
Species
  • †A. bruniStehlin, 1912
  • †A. collinsonaeHooker, 1986
  • †A. parisiensisCuvier, 1821
  • †A. sudreiGingerich, 1977

Adapis is an extinct adapiform primate from the Eocene of Europe. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] While this genus has traditionally contained five species (A. magnus, A. bruni, A. collinsonae, A. parisiensis, and A. sudrei), recent research has recognized at least six morphotypes that may represent distinct species. [6] Adapis holds the title of the first Eocene primate ever discovered. In 1821, Georges Cuvier, who is considered to be the founding father of paleontology, discovered Adapis in fissure fillings outside of Paris, France. [3] Given its timing and appearance in the fossil record, Cuvier did not recognize the primate affinities of Adapis and first described it as a small extinct pachyderm; only later in the 19th century was Adapis identified as a primate. [6] [8]

Contents

Etymology and Naming

One etymology suggests that the word is derived from Greek : αa, 'without' and Greek : δάπιςdapis 'carpet', a reference to the assumed texture of its skin as it was considered a pachyderm. [11] However, since Pachydermata was first described in the eighteenth century, and 'adapis' was in use as a vernacular name for the hyrax during the sixteenth century, this etymology may be anachronistic. The more plausible etymology, which is referenced by Cuvier himself, is that, since he believed that the remains from the Paris region belonged to an extinct genus of pachyderms, he adopted Adapis, a non-scientific name that was "sometimes used for the Hyrax", which he considered related to Adapis. [12] Cuvier's source for the informal name was Conrad Gesner, Historiae animalium, I (Zurich, 1551), chapter on rabbits, p. 395. Gesner himself believed that both adapis and the Aramaic word from which he thought it was derived actually referred to the common rabbit.

Anatomy

A. parisiensis jaws Adapis parisiensis MHNT PAL 2013 0 1014 Esamps 46 Oligocene Filhol.jpg
A. parisiensis jaws

Adapis is considered a sexually dimorphic primate, in which males are generally larger in size than females; for example, one study found that compared to females, adult males of Adapis are 44%-56% larger in body weight, have 13-16% longer crania, and 13%-19% larger in canines. [2] Moreover, males of this genus have relatively broader skulls with more prominent nuchal and sagittal crests. [2] Interestingly, the canine dimorphism in Adapis is distinct from the form of canine dimorphism exhibited in Notharctus , another adapiform genus found in the Eocene of North America. [2] The fossil crania of Adapis exhibit relatively small orbits which suggests a diurnal activity pattern for the genus. [8] They also possess a tall sagittal crest and a strong postorbital constriction of the braincase in order to support massive temporalis muscles that facilitated powerful chewing. The dental anatomy of Adapis is characterized by dominant buccal shearing crests adapted for a folivorous and partially frugivorous diet. [9] The postcranial anatomy of Adapis suggests the taxon was adapted for climbing rather than leaping. For example, the femur shares many features in common with pottos and lorises, but not lemurs. [6] Adapis also has a very short astragalar neck and abbreviated distal elongation of the calcaneus. The ankle morphology of Adapis differs from that of notharctid taxa in its abbreviated astragalar neck and reduced distal aspect of the calcaneus. These features are also consistent with climbing instead of leaping. [10]

Taxonomic diversity

Adapis belongs to the family Adapidae. [5] While there is debate regarding the number of species of Adapis, the morphological variation in the humeri of Adapis suggests anywhere from four to six species could be represented in the genus. Traditionally, five species of Adapis have been recognized, including A. magnus, A. bruni, A. collinsonae, A. parisiensis, and A. sudrei. Recent research showed that some fossil humeri of Adapis exhibit morphology that is comparable to living active arboreal quadrupeds. [6] The evolutionary lineage from Adapis magnus to Adapis parisiensis exhibits reduced body size and canine size. [2]

Geographic and temporal range

Adapis was first discovered in southern France. [6] [8] Fossils are known from the early Eocene, [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] to the early Oligocene. The extinction of Adapis at the Eocoene-Oligiocene boundary has been considered to be the result of dramatic global cooling and drying. [2] While North American and European adapiforms did not have access to geographic refuge to evade the cooler and drier conditions in the Northern latitudes, adapiforms in Asia were able to retreat to southern geographic regions that did not experience severe cooling and drying, enabling their survival until the Miocene. [6]

History of discovery

The genus was first found and named by Georges Cuvier in 1821. This was the first Eocene primate ever discovered but was first mistakenly identified as an extinct genus of pachyderms. The true identity was not discovered until the 1870s where entire skulls were found in the Quercy region in southern France. [6] [7] Adapis and close relatives were also found in many fissure fillings in southern France. [6]

Paleobiology

While the average body weight of Adapis is estimated to be about 2.0 kg, the genus is represented by an extremely wide range of body size across species compared to other adapiform genera. A. parisiensis appears to have been a medium-sized (compared to the large-bodied A. magnus with an estimated body mass of 8.4-9.0 kg), [8] visually oriented, diurnal, sexually dimorphic arboreal folivore. [8] Examinations of the dental microwear reveal striations on molar wear facets A. magnus, which suggests complex, three-directional mandibular movement during mastication. Adapis has been interpreted as having a diurnal activity pattern due to its small orbits. [8] While some species of Adapis were mainly folivores, other species subsited on a diet that included some fruit. [9] Based on other anatomical features, Adapis is thought to have been a climber rather than a leaper, [6] and most likely had slow to medium slow locomotion. [4] Horizontal movement was also a possibly important means of locomotion. [10] In comparison with living primates, many researchers have considered the body size dimorphism in Adapis as indicative of a polygynous mating system. [2] However, other have interpreted the fossils A. parisiensis as indicative of monogamy, suggesting the taxon was predominately solitary with a small home range. Based on inner ear morphology, Adapis may have been more sensitive to high frequencies rather than low frequencies. This interpretation of inner-ear morphology has led some researchers to compare the social and activity behaviors of A. parisiensis to that of Perodicticus potto and Nycticebus coucang , which are extant primates that are solitary, nocturnal, and monogamous. Moreover, this morphology lends to the hypothesis that A. parisiensis had a small home range with sensitivity to high frequencies that do not broadcast over long distances. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strepsirrhini</span> Suborder of primates

Strepsirrhini or Strepsirhini is a suborder of primates that includes the lemuriform primates, which consist of the lemurs of Madagascar, galagos ("bushbabies") and pottos from Africa, and the lorises from India and southeast Asia. Collectively they are referred to as strepsirrhines. Also belonging to the suborder are the extinct adapiform primates which thrived during the Eocene in Europe, North America, and Asia, but disappeared from most of the Northern Hemisphere as the climate cooled. Adapiforms are sometimes referred to as being "lemur-like", although the diversity of both lemurs and adapiforms does not support this comparison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adapidae</span> Extinct family of primates

Adapidae is a family of extinct primates that primarily radiated during the Eocene epoch between about 55 and 34 million years ago.

<i>Plesiadapis</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Plesiadapis is one of the oldest known primate-like mammal genera which existed about 58–55 million years ago in North America and Europe. Plesiadapis means "near-Adapis", which is a reference to the adapiform primate of the Eocene period, Adapis. Plesiadapis tricuspidens, the type specimen, is named after the three cusps present on its upper incisors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adapiformes</span> Extinct order of primates

Adapiformes is a group of early primates. Adapiforms radiated throughout much of the northern continental mass, reaching as far south as northern Africa and tropical Asia. They existed from the Eocene to the Miocene epoch. Some adapiforms resembled living lemurs.

<i>Notharctus tenebrosus</i> Extinct species of mammal

Notharctus tenebrosus was an early primate from the early Eocene, some 54–38 million years ago. Its fossil was found by Ferdinand V. Hayden in 1870 in southwestern Wyoming. When first found, Notharctus tenebrosus was thought to be a small pachyderm due to the concentration of pachyderm fossils in the area. However, after Walter W. Granger's discovery of a nearly complete skeleton, also in Wyoming, it was firmly established as a primate. Notharctus tenebrosus most resembles modern-day lemurs, although they are not directly related.

<i>Necrolemur</i> Extinct genus of primates

Necrolemur is a small bodied omomyid with body mass estimations ranging from 114–346 g (4.0–12.2 oz). Necrolemur’s teeth feature broad basins and blunt cusps, suggesting their diet consisted of mostly soft fruit, though examination of microwear patterns suggests that populations from lower latitudes also consumed insects and gums.

<i>Smilodectes</i> Extinct genus of primates

Smilodectes is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in North America during the middle Eocene. It possesses a post-orbital bar and grasping thumbs and toes. Smilodectes has a small cranium size and the foramen magnum was located at the back of the skull, on the occipital bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notharctinae</span> Extinct subfamily of mammals

Notharctinae is an extinct subfamily of primates that were common in North America during the early and middle Eocene. The six genera that make up the group contain species that are among the most primitive of the adapiform group, which is one of the most primitive groups of primates. The evolutionary history of this subfamily has been comparatively well documented and has been used to argue for evolutionary gradualism. Though it is generally accepted that adapiforms gave rise to modern day lemurs and lorises, it is not currently known which branch of Adapiformes these living species are most closely related to. Notharctines became extinct in the middle Eocene, most likely because of a combination of factors including climatic change and competition with other North American primates.

<i>Pelycodus</i> Extinct genus of primates

Pelycodus is an extinct genus of adapiform primate that lived during the early Eocene (Wasatchian) period in Europe and North America, particularly Wyoming and New Mexico. It is very closely related to Cantius and may even be its subgenus. It may also have given rise to the Middle Eocene Uintan primate Hesperolemur, although this is controversial. From mass estimates based on the first molar, the two species, P. jarrovii and P. danielsae, weighed 4.5 kg and 6.3 kg respectively and were frugivores with an arboreal, quadrupedal locomotion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual dimorphism in non-human primates</span> Sexual differences in primates

Sexual dimorphism describes the morphological, physiological, and behavioral differences between males and females of the same species. Most primates are sexually dimorphic for different biological characteristics, such as body size, canine tooth size, craniofacial structure, skeletal dimensions, pelage color and markings, and vocalization. However, such sex differences are primarily limited to the anthropoid primates; most of the strepsirrhine primates and tarsiers are monomorphic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toothcomb</span> Dental structure found in some mammals

A toothcomb is a dental structure found in some mammals, comprising a group of front teeth arranged in a manner that facilitates grooming, similar to a hair comb. The toothcomb occurs in lemuriform primates, treeshrews, colugos, hyraxes, and some African antelopes. The structures evolved independently in different types of mammals through convergent evolution and vary both in dental composition and structure. In most mammals the comb is formed by a group of teeth with fine spaces between them. The toothcombs in most mammals include incisors only, while in lemuriform primates they include incisors and canine teeth that tilt forward at the front of the lower jaw, followed by a canine-shaped first premolar. The toothcombs of colugos and hyraxes take a different form with the individual incisors being serrated, providing multiple tines per tooth.

<i>Cantius</i> Extinct genus of primates

Cantius is a genus of adapiform primates from the early Eocene of North America and Europe. It is extremely well represented in the fossil record in North America and has been hypothesized to be the direct ancestor of Notharctus in North America. The evolution of Cantius is characterized by a significant increase in body mass that nearly tripled in size. The earliest species were considered small-sized and weighed in around 1 kg (2.2 lb), while the later occurring species were considered medium-sized and likely weighed in around 3 kg (6.6 lb). Though significantly smaller, the fossil remains discovered of the various species of Cantius have striking similarities to that of Notharctus and Smilodectes. It is likely Cantius relied on arboreal quadrupedal locomotion, primarily running and leaping. This locomotor pattern comparable to that of extant lemurs, which has fostered the hypothesis that Cantius and other strepsirrhine adapiforms may have a close phylogenetic affinity to living lemurs.

Azibiidae is an extinct family of fossil primate from the late early or early middle Eocene from the Glib Zegdou Formation in the Gour Lazib area of Algeria. They are thought to be related to the living toothcombed primates, the lemurs and lorisoids, although paleoanthropologists such as Marc Godinot have argued that they may be early simians. It includes the genera Azibius and Algeripithecus, the latter of which was originally considered the oldest known simian, not a strepsirrhine.

Azibius is an extinct genus of fossil primate from the late early or early middle Eocene from the Glib Zegdou Formation in the Gour Lazib area of Algeria. They are thought to be related to the living toothcombed primates, the lemurs and lorisoids, although paleoanthropologists such as Marc Godinot have argued that they may be early simians. Originally described as a type of plesiadapiform, its fragmentary remains have been interpreted as a hyopsodontid, an adapid, and a macroscelidid. Less fragmentary remains discovered between 2003 and 2009 demonstrated a close relationship between Azibius and Algeripithecus, a fossil primate once thought to be the oldest known simian. Descriptions of the talus in 2011 have helped to strengthen support for the strepsirrhine status of Azibius and Algeripithecus, which would indicate that the evolutionary history of lemurs and their kin is rooted in Africa.

Djebelemur is an extinct genus of early strepsirrhine primate from the late early or early middle Eocene period from the Chambi locality in Tunisia. Although they probably lacked a toothcomb, a specialized dental structure found in living lemuriforms, they are thought to be a related stem group. The one recognized species, Djebelemur martinezi, was very small, approximately 100 g (3.5 oz).

Plesiopithecus is an extinct genus of early strepsirrhine primate from the late Eocene.

Indraloris is a fossil primate from the Miocene of India and Pakistan in the family Sivaladapidae. Two species are now recognized: I. himalayensis from Haritalyangar, India and I. kamlialensis from the Pothohar Plateau, Pakistan. Other material from the Potwar Plateau may represent an additional, unnamed species. Body mass estimates range from about 2 kg (4.4 lb) for the smaller I. kamlialensis to over 4 kg (8.8 lb) for the larger I. himalayensis.

Cercamonius is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Europe during the late Eocene. It was first described by Stehlin in 1912. The genus is named after the Occitan poet Cercamon, one of the earliest troubadours.

Sivaladapis is a genus of adapiform primate that lived in Asia during the middle Miocene.

Afradapis is a genus of adapiform primate that lived during the Late Eocene. The only known species, Afradapis longicristatus, was discovered in the Birket Qarun Formation in northern Egypt in 2009. While its geographic distribution is confined to Afro-Arabia, Afradapis belongs to the predominantly European adapiform family Caenopithecinae. This taxonomic placement is supported by recent phylogenetic analyses that recover a close evolutionary relationship between Afradapis and adapiforms, including Darwinius. While adapiforms have been noted for their strepsirrhine-like morphology, no adapiform fossil possesses the unique anatomical traits to establish an ancestor-descent relationship between caenopithecids and living strepsirrhines. It ate leaves and moved around slowly like lorises.

References

  1. ↑ "Adapis". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gingerich, Philip D. (November 1981). "Cranial morphology and adaptations in Eocene Adapidae. I. Sexual dimorphism in Adapis magnus and Adapis parisiensis". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 56 (3): 217–234. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330560303. hdl: 2027.42/37606 .
  3. 1 2 3 Napier, J. R. "Historical background of primate studies". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bernardi, Margot; Couette, Sébastien (September 2017). "Eocene paleoecology of Adapis parisiensis (Primate, Adapidae): from inner ear to lifestyle". The Anatomical Record. 300 (9): 1576–1588. doi: 10.1002/ar.23609 . PMID   28452186. S2CID   19045637.
  5. 1 2 3 Fleagle, John G. (2013). Primate Adaptation and Evolution (3rd ed.). Academic Press.[ page needed ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Marigó, Judit; Verrière, Nicole; Godinot, Marc (January 2019). "Systematic and locomotor diversification of the Adapis group (Primates, Adapiformes) in the late Eocene of the Quercy (Southwest France), revealed by humeral remains". Journal of Human Evolution. 126: 71–90. Bibcode:2019JHumE.126...71M. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.10.009 . PMID   30583845. S2CID   58560825.
  7. 1 2 3 Gingerich, Philip D.; Martin, Robert D. (November 1981). "Cranial morphology and adaptations in Eocene Adapidae. II. The Cambridge skull of Adapis parisiensis". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 56 (3): 235–257. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330560304. hdl: 2027.42/37607 .
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gingerich, Philip D. (May 1972). "Molar occlusion and jaw mechanics of the Eocene primate Adapis". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 36 (3): 359–368. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330360306. PMID   5064309.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Godinot, Marc (1991). "Toward the locomotion of two contemporaneous Adapis species". Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Anthropologie. 78 (3): 387–405. doi:10.1127/zma/78/1991/387. JSTOR   25757326. PMID   1887665.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Schwartz, Gary T.; Miller, Ellen R.; Gunnell, Gregg F. (January 2005). "Developmental processes and canine dimorphism in primate evolution". Journal of Human Evolution. 48 (1): 97–103. Bibcode:2005JHumE..48...97S. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.10.005. PMID   15656938.
  11. ↑ Roberts, George (1839). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans. p. 3. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  12. ↑ Cuvier, G.B., Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles, Vol. 3, 1822, p. 265, footnote
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