DRYOPITHECUS-CRUSAFONTI SP-NOV, A NEW MIOCENE HOMINOID SPECIES FROM CAN PONSIC (NORTHEASTERN SPAIN)

Reanalysis of the sample of Miocene Hominoidea from Spain, together with the entire sample of European Miocene Hominoidea, has revealed a number of distinctive traits among the specimens from the early Vallesian locality of Can Ponsic (Crusafont and Hurzeler, 1969; Crusafont and Golpe, 1973; Hartenberger and Crusafont, 1979; Agusti et al., 1984, 1985). The Can Ponsic sample, while sharing characteristics with other samples of Dryopithecus from Europe, is sufficiently distinctive to form the basis for a new species. Characteristic of the new species are a distinctive lower molar occlusal morphology, large, broad upper molars, and very high crowned upper central incisors with well-developed lingual pillars. The new species shares characteristics with Dryopithecus laietanus, the only other species of the genus in Spain, and lacks derived features of non-Spanish Dryopithecus. Four species of Dryopithecus are now known (Begun, 1987, 1988a, and in preparation). Their distribution and morphology have significant implications for the biogeography and phylogeny of this early great ape genus.