Azibiidae
Azibiidae Temporal range: Eocene
Early to Middle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Primates |
Suborder: | Strepsirrhini |
Infraorder: | incertae sedis |
Family: | †Azibiidae Gingerich, 1976 |
Genera | |
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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 (known as strepsirrhines), although paleoanthropologists such as Marc Godinot have argued that they may be early simians (monkeys and apes). It includes the genera Azibius and Algeripithecus, the latter of which was originally considered the oldest known simian, not a strepsirrhine.
Originally described as a type of
Azibiids were small-bodied primates, with Algeripithecus minutus weighing between 65 and 85 g (2.3 and 3.0 oz), Azibius trerki weighing approximately 115 and 160 g (4.1 and 5.6 oz), and an unnamed species of Azibius being notably larger, weighing an estimated 630 to 920 g (22 to 32 oz).
Evolutionary history
Although the taxonomy is disputed,
General phylogeny of strepsirrhines[9] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An Afro-Arabian clade of early strepsirrhines is thought to have given rise modern lemurs, lorises, and galagos. Azibiid taxonomy is still disputed. |
Taxonomy
The first species, Azibius trerki, was originally described by Jean Sudre in 1975 as a possible 'paromomyiform' (a type of
In 2006, paleoanthropologist Marc Godinot favored a relationship between Azibius and simians, but tentatively suggested Azibius may be more closely related to toothcombed primates, which include all extant strepsirrhines.[11] This latter view has gained increasing support with the reclassification of Algeripithecus (once considered a basal simian) as a closely related azibiid. Additional fossil teeth and the maxilla (upper jaw) of both genera discovered between 2003 and 2009 helped demonstrate their relationship. Based on the same fossil finds, Tabelia—which was also considered to be one of the oldest known simians along with Algeripithecus—is also now considered to be a synonym of Azibius. Also, the third and fourth lower premolars (P3 and P4) distinguish azibiids from carpolestids, while the upper fourth premolar (P4) matches what was thought to be the second upper molar (M2) of Dralestes hammadaensis, another suspected plesiadapiform[12] or genus of azibiid.[13] Specimens of Dralestes are now recognized as being either Azibius and Algeripithecus, and Tabuce et al. claimed that Dralestes was a synonym of Azibius in 2009.[12] However, in 2010, Godinot cautiously suggested that Dralestes may be a synonym of Algeripithecus based on a blade-like premolar. He also reasserted his view that Algeripithecus was a simian based on its upper molar morphology and hypothesized that this applied to all azibiids, favoring his earlier view that they may be early simians instead of stem lemuriforms.[1] The argument for strepsirrhine affinities was strengthened in 2011 when Marivaux et al. published an interpretation of recently discovered talus bones[a] found at Gour Lazib, which they claimed were more similar to those of living strepsirrhines and extinct adapiforms, not simians. The tali morphology also differed radically from those of plesiadapiforms, confirming that azibiids are true primates.[15]
Anatomy and physiology
All known azibiids were small-bodied primates.[16] The body mass of Algeripithecus minutus was estimated[b] between 65 and 85 g (2.3 and 3.0 oz),[10] equivalent in size to a hairy-eared dwarf lemur (Allocebus trichotis) or the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus).[16] Azibius trerki was estimated to weigh between 115 and 160 g (4.1 and 5.6 oz),[10] comparable in size to a gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus). An unnamed species, cf. Azibius sp., was larger, weighing between 630 and 920 g (22 and 32 oz), making it similar in size to sportive lemurs (Lepilemur).[16]
Distribution
Both Azibius and Algeripithecus have only been found in the Glib Zegdou Formation of the Gour Lazib area in Algeria. The Glib Zegdou Formation dates to the late early or early middle Eocene.[8] Two upper molars found in Chambi, Tunisia, which were originally associated with Djebelemur martinezi (another suspected stem lemuriform), may instead represent another primate more closely related to Algeripithecus.[17]
Notes
References
- ^ a b Godinot 2010, pp. 322–323.
- ^ a b Tabuce et al. 2009, p. 4093.
- ^ Tabuce et al. 2009, pp. 4092–4093.
- ^ Godinot 2006, pp. 461–462.
- ^ Godinot 2006, pp. 454–455.
- ^ Tabuce et al. 2009, p. 4091.
- ^ Godinot & Mahboubi 1992, p. 326.
- ^ a b Tabuce et al. 2009, p. 4087.
- ^ Tabuce et al. 2009, pp. 4091–4092.
- ^ a b c d Tabuce et al. 2009, p. 4088.
- ^ Godinot 2006, pp. 461.
- ^ a b Tabuce et al. 2009, pp. 4088–4089.
- ^ Godinot 2010, p. 320.
- ^ Marivaux et al. 2011, p. 451.
- ^ Marivaux et al. 2011, pp. 452–453.
- ^ a b c Marivaux et al. 2011, p. 453.
- ^ Seiffert et al. 2010, pp. 371–372.
Literature cited
- Godinot, M.; Mahboubi, M. (1992). "Earliest known simian primate found in Algeria". Nature. 357 (6376): 324–326. PMID 1589034.
- Godinot, M. (2006). "Lemuriform origins as viewed from the fossil record". Folia Primatologica. 77 (6): 446–464. PMID 17053330.
- Godinot, M. (2010). "Chapter 19: Paleogene Prosimians". In Werdelin, L.; Sanders, W.J (eds.). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25721-4.
- Marivaux, L.; Tabuce, R.; Lebrun, R.; Ravel, A.; Adaci, M.; Mahboubi, M.H.; Bensalah, M. (2011). "Talar morphology of azibiids, strepsirhine-related primates from the Eocene of Algeria: Phylogenetic affinities and locomotor adaptation". Journal of Human Evolution. 61 (4): 447–457. PMID 21752425.
- Seiffert, E.R.; Simons, E.L.; Fleagle, J.G.; Godinot, M. (2010). "Chapter 22: Paleogene Anthropoids". In Werdelin, L.; Sanders, W.J (eds.). Cenozoic Mammals of Africa. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25721-4.
- Tabuce, R.; Marivaux, L.; Lebrun, R.; Adaci, M.; Bensalah, M.; Fabre, P. -H.; Fara, E.; Gomes Rodrigues, H.; Hautier, L.; Jaeger, J. -J.; Lazzari, V.; Mebrouk, F.; Peigne, S.; Sudre, J.; Tafforeau, P.; Valentin, X.; Mahboubi, M. (2009). "Anthropoid versus strepsirhine status of the African Eocene primates Algeripithecus and Azibius: Craniodental evidence". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 276 (1676): 4087–4094. PMID 19740889.
- "African Origin Of Anthropoid Primates Called Into Question With New Fossil Discovery". ScienceDaily. 17 September 2009.