NEW SIVALADAPID PRIMATES FROM THE EOCENE PONDAUNG FORMATION OF MYANMAR AND THE ANTHROPOID STATUS OF AMPHIPITHECIDAE

Fossil primates from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar have been used to construct the evolutionary history of anthropoids. However, the most abundant anthropoid fossil currently used from the Pondaung Formation have proven to be controversial in reconstructing the evolutionary tract. This article describes the findings of two new primate fossils, Paukkaungia parva and Kyitchaungia takaii for the middle Econene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar. The fossil remains of the lower dentition from both Paukkaungia and Kyitchaungia are closely related to other sivaladapid primates. Therefore, these new findings, for the first time, are able to document the presence of adapiforms in the Pondaung Formation, and enhance the taxonomic and paleoecological diversity of the late middle Eocene primates of Myanmar.



Beard, K. C., Marivaux, L., Soe Thura Tun, Aung Naing Soe, Chaimanee, Y., Wanna Htoon, Marandat, B., Htun Htun Aung, and Jaeger, J.J. 2007. New sivaladapid primates from the Eocene Pondaung Formation of Myanmar and the anthropoid status of Amphipithecidae. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History 39: 67-76.