ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCE Vol. 115, 153–158, 2007 A new great ape from the late Miocene of Turkey Erksin Savas GüLEç 1*, Ayla SEVIM1, Cesur PEHLEVAN2, Ferhat KAYA2 1University of Ankara, Department of Anthropology, D.T.C.F. Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey 2University of Yüzüncüyil, Department of Anthropology, The Faculty of Science and Letters, Van, Turkey Received 1 May 2007; accepted 9 June 2007 Abstract An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene locality of Çorakyerler (central Anatolia) are recognized as a new species of Ouranopithecus, one of the rare western Eurasian hominoids to have survived well into the late Miocene. This species is distinguished from its sister taxon, and likely ancestor Ouranopithecus macedoniensis, by a constel- lation of dentognathic features. The new species, in which the male postcanine dentition is larger than that of any other Miocene ape besides Gigantopithecus, is associated with evidence indicating an open, dry environment. Dental features of Ouranopithecus apparently evolved in parallel with later Austral- opithecus, and suggest that Ouranopithecus was adapted to a diet of tough/abrasive foods. Key words: primates, Hominoidea, late Miocene, Çorakyerler, Turkey Introduction The Çorakyerler locality is located at the northeast (NE) corner of the Çankiri basin in central Anatolia (Figure 1). Fossiliferous sediments were discovered here in the early 1970s during a joint German-Turkish mineral exploration program (Sickenberg et al., 1975). The age of the exposed deposits, based on mammalian biochronological correla- tions, was suggested to be late Miocene (Kaymakçi et al., 2001). Ten years ago our field team initiated new research at Çorakyerler, resulting in the discovery of a hitherto un- known species of hominoid (Sevim et al., 2001; Sevim and Kiper, 2002; Begun et al., 2003), younger than any known previously in western Asia. Biochronological evaluations (see below) suggest correlation with MN11 (Ünay et al., 2006), which is currently placed between 8.7 and 7.4 Ma (Kostopolous et al., 2003). The fossil-bearing unit has a rich mammalian fauna and consists of pale-green mottled marl that forms the lower part of a thick succession of continental red beds and overlying evaporites. The Çorakyerler fossils derive from deposits of a large complex of mud flats, probably representing the distal portion of a large alluvial fan-floodplain interfingering with shallow, ephemeral lakes in the northwest (NW) margin of the Çankiri Basin. The overlying evaporites suggest enhanced aridity and an inland sabhka-type environment (Kaymakçi et al., 2001). The Çorakyerler vertebrate assemblage (Table 1) is domi- nated by rhinocerotids, hipparionines and bovids, and rarer Figure 1. Location of the Çorakyerler locality. (a) Present-day cervids, suids, gomphotherids, carnivores, and the hominoid configuration of Anatolia relative to the Eurasia, Arabian plates, and primate. The rodent assemblage suggests a savannah-like the Black and Mediterranean seas. Major faults are illustrated. NAFZ, environment and an MN11 age (Ünay et al., 2006). The Northern Anatolian Fault Zone; EAFZ, Eastern Anatolian Fault Zone; DSFZ, Dead Sea Fault Zone (a northern extension of the East African Rift System. (b) Geological map of the northeastern corner of the * Corresponding author. e-mail: [email protected] Çankiri-Çorum basin showing the location of Çorakyerler, north of phone: +90-312-309-3761; fax: +90-312-309-3761 Çankiri. The fossil horizons are included in the Tuglu Formation. (Modified from Kaymakçi et al., 2001). Published online 24 August 2007 in J-STAGE (www.jstage.jst.go.jp) DOI: 10.1537/ase.070501 © 2007 The Anthropological Society of Nippon 153 154 E.S. GÜLEÇ ET AL. ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCE Table 1. Faunal list from Çorakyerler 1999). The adult hominoid maxilla (CO-205), with LI1–M3 and INSECTIVORA 2 Soricidae indet. RC–M , is of a large individual, presumed to be male RODENTIA (Figure 2a, b, c). It preserves portions of the right palatine Byzantinia pikermiensis process to the midline, a small fragment of the left palatine Byzantinia aff. hellenicus process, most of the left alveolar process, and much of the aff. Rhinocerodon sp. palatal surface of the right premaxilla. There is minor distor- Keramidomys sp. tion along both tooth rows. The canine is fully erupted and in Allocricetus aylasevimae 3 Pseudomeriones latidens an early stage of wear, as is the M . Cricetidae gen. et sp. indet. A partial subadult mandible (CO-300) is distorted and Myomimus sp. lacks its base, but retains the upper symphysis, erupting right Hansdebruijnia erksinae canine, left and right P3 to M1, and right M2 (the latter tooth Hansdebruijnia cf. neutrum was found isolated 50 cm from the mandible) (Figure 2d, f, cf. Pliospalax sp. g, h). The size and morphology of the P3, and a computerized Portalactaga aff. major CARNIVORA tomography (CT) image of the unerupted canine, suggest Mustelidae that this individual is also male. indet. A small partial right mandible lacking the base, CO-710, PRIMATES preserves P3 to M2 (Figure 2e). The dentition is more worn Hominoidea than the other specimens, and based on size is probably from Ouranopithecus turkae a female. It is very small compared to CO-300, and has a ARTIODACTYLA Suidae smaller dentition than RPL-54a, a probable female mandible Microstonyx major cf. erymanethius of O. macedoniensis (de Bonis et al., 1974; de Bonis and Cervidae Melentis, 1977). Pliocervus sp. The uniquely derived dental and palatal features of the Giraffidae Çorakyerler primate specimens warrant recognition as a new Paleotragus cf. quadricornis hominoid species. Samotherium sp. Bovidae Tragoportax gaudryi Systematics cf. Prostrepsiceros sp. Palaeoreas cf. elegans Order Primates Linnaeus 1758 Gazella sp. Suborder Anthropoidea Mivart 1864 Oioceros rothi Superfamily Hominoidea Gray 1825 Protoryx sp. Genus Ouranopithecus Bonis and Melentis 1977 Plesiaddax ? sp. Ovibovini indet. Species Ouranopithecus turkae sp. nov. Bovidae gen. et. sp. indet. Etymology. Turkae for the people who live in Anatolia. PERISSODACTYLA 2 Rhinocerotidae Holotype. CO-205, a maxilla fragment with right C–M and Chilotherium sp. left I1–M3. Rhinocerotinae indet. Ceratotherium neumayri Paratypes. CO-300, a subadult mandible with right C–M2 Equidae and left P3–M1; CO-710, an adult partial right mandible Hipparion sp. A with P3–M2; holotype and paratypes are housed at the Hipparion sp. B University of Ankara. Hipparion sp. C PROBOSCIDEA Diagnosis. O. turkae is distinguished from other Miocene Gomphotheriidae hominoids, including Ankarapithecus as well as the prob- Choerolophodon pentelici able sister taxon Ouranopithecus macedoniensis, by a constellation of dentognathic features that includes short- er and more vertical premaxilla, palate narrow relative to greatest faunal affinities are with Kemiklitepe in western Ana- postcanine occlusal size, and homomorphic P3 and P4. tolia, Middle Marageh, Iran, and Pikermi, Greece (Bernor, The P3 is nearly symmetrical and oval in occlusal outline 1986; de Bonis et al., 1994; Bernor et al., 1996; de Bonis and the pre-and postparacrista are subequal in length. O. and Koufos, 1999). The predominance of spiral-horned ante- turkae is further distinguished from O. macedoniensis by lopes, hipparionines and grazing rhinos (Chilotherium) indi- its smaller relative canine to cheek tooth size proportions, cate open woodland conditions, although suids and cervids shorter-crowned male canines, maxillary incisors nearly may indicate slightly more closed woodland than at Ke- aligned with the canines, and perhaps larger (male) size. miklitepe (de Bonis et al., 1994). In total, the Çorakyerler vertebrate fauna suggests a younger age and a more open or Description at least drier/cooler/more seasonal habitat than hitherto known for any other European or west Asian hominoid lo- The upper incisors are very heteromorphic in size and cality or taxon (de Bonis and Koufos, 1999; Solounias et al., shape. The I1 is robust and squat, with nearly equivalent me- Vol. 115, 2007 NEW GREAT APE FROM THE LATE MIOCENE OF TURKEY 155 Figure 2. The Çorakyerler hominoid fossils. CO-205: (a) occlusal view; (b) lingual view of right side and left I1 and I2; (c) buccal view of left C–M3. CO-300: (d) occlusal view; (f) micro-CT-based imagery of right dental row, buccal view; (g) summed voxel projection of right dental row; (h) summed voxel projection of lower canine perpendicular to previous view. CO-710: (e) occlusal view. A summed voxel projection adds CT val- ues of all projected voxels and corresponds to conventional X-ray images. siodistal and labiolingual dimensions (Table 2). Its lingual Table 2. Dental measurements of the CO-205 maxilla (male) surface is marked by deep vertical fissures, including prom- MD La-Li inent mesial and distal lingual grooves. The worn incisal I1 L 11.9 10.5 edge angles steeply lingually. A prominent basal tubercle, 2 contributing to the labiolingually thick crown, is slightly I L6.37.2 worn along the incisal wear plane. The I2 crown is wider la- MxOB-BL MxPerp. H biolingually than mesiodistally, and has a strong basal lin- C L 15.6 14.3 (21.0) gual cingulum and marked lingual relief. Relative to the R 15.0 14.5 (20.0) cheek teeth, the incisors are small. MD BL In buccal aspect, the upper canine crown shoulders are set 3 near the crown base. The basal canine outline is a labiolin- P L10.014.3— R10.314.2— gually elongate oval. The mesial groove is narrow and deep. 4 P L 9.9 14.8 — The right canine tip was fractured antemortem and the den- R 9.9 14.6 — tine was slightly worn apically. There is a distolingual hon- M1 L14.115.5— ing facet formed by contact with the P3 and an extensive and R(13.95)— — mammelated lingual cingulum. Relative to postcanine tooth M2 L 15.5 16.36 — R16.316.5— size, CO-205 has among the smallest canines of presumed 3 males of any known late Neogene hominoid (Figure 3).