Fossil Discoveries Augment Europe's Significance in Great Ape Evolution

Europe's role as a hub for great ape evolution is further emphasized by the discovery of two different species of ancient apes coexisting in present-day Germany 11.6 million years ago. The findings from fossils unearthed in a Bavarian clay pit suggest that Europe housed distinct species of apes with diverse body styles and diets, marking the first time such coexistence has been observed outside of Africa. This was reported by SSPDaily.

The Hammerschmiede site in Germany, known for its 11.6-million-year-old fossils of Danuvius guggenmosi, has yielded new insights. Researchers led by paleontologist Madelaine Böhme from Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen have now identified three fossils from the Danuvius sediment layer as belonging to a newly identified great ape species named Buronius manfredschmidi. These fossils include a partial upper molar, a kneecap, and a partial lower premolar.

Analysis of the size and shape of the Buronius fossils suggests it may have weighed around 10 kilograms, making it the smallest known great ape. It is comparable in size to modern siamangs, classified as a lesser ape. The researchers believe that Buronius had a diet of soft foods, with evidence of a thin outer layer of tooth enamel, and was adept at climbing, as indicated by certain characteristics of the fossilized kneecap.

In contrast, Danuvius, which was about twice the size of Buronius, had thickly enameled teeth suitable for consuming tough foods like mollusks, nuts, roots, underground stems, and small animals. The coexistence of these two distinct sizes and diet preferences at the same location supports the idea that the Miocene ecosystems in Europe fostered the evolution of diverse ape lineages.

The presence of Buronius adds to the already impressive number of European fossil ape genera related to modern great apes from approximately 16 to 6 million years ago. With 16 genera discovered, this surpasses the number found in Africa from the same period. However, the limited number of Buronius fossils leaves some uncertainty regarding its evolutionary status and if it truly represents a distinct species.

Intriguingly, certain features of the Buronius fossils share similarities with the pliopithecoids, a group of Eurasian apes without living descendants. Further investigation, including imaging studies of tooth structure, will shed more light on the evolutionary position of Buronius within the ancient European apes. Regardless of its exact classification, the coexistence of different ape species at Hammerschmiede highlights Europe's influential role in the evolution of primates during the Miocene era.

However, there are differing opinions on whether Buronius and Danuvius both occupied the site. Some scientists suggest that the small teeth described in the study might belong to infant Danuvius individuals, while others raise questions about the species identity of the kneecap and propose that it could even come from an undersized young Danuvius specimen. To resolve these uncertainties, more fossils will be crucial for establishing a clearer understanding of the evolutionary history of great apes and primates in Miocene Europe.