Morphological analysis of new Dryas Monkey specimens from the Central Congo Basin

Taxonomic considerations and an emended diagnosis

Bibliographic Data

ID8320141
AuthorsChristopher C Gilbert (0000-0001-8768-3171, Department of Anthropology Hunter College, CUNY New York New York USA, corresponding author), Emmanuel Gilissen (Department of African Zoology Royal Museum for Central Africa Tervuren Belgium), J L Arenson (0000-0002-0956-7826, PhD Program in Anthropology The Graduate Center, CUNY New York New York USA), B A Patel (0000-0003-1844-1931, University of Southern California), M Nakatsukasa (0000-0002-6897-8027, Laboratory of Physical Anthropology, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University), Terese B Hart (0000-0002-8580-8337, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Tshuapa‐Lomami‐Lualaba (TL2) Project Frankfurt Germany), John A Hart (0000-0002-5800-0156, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Tshuapa‐Lomami‐Lualaba (TL2) Project Frankfurt Germany), Kate M Detwiler (0000-0003-4597-133X, Department of Anthropology Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USA), Eric J Sargis (0000-0003-0424-3803, Division of Vertebrate Zoology Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History New Haven Connecticut USA)
Year2021
Volume176
Issue3
Pages361-389
Publication date2021-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.24278
PMID33931848
OpenAlexW3158986824
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited19

OBJECTIVES: The little known guenon Cercopithecus dryas has a controversial taxonomic history with some recognizing two taxa (C. dryas and C. salongo) instead of one. New adult specimens from the TL2 region of the central Congo Basin allow further assessment of C. dryas morphology and, along with CT scans of the juvenile holotype, provide ontogenetically stable comparisons across all C. dryas and "C. salongo" specimens for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The skins and skulls of two newly acquired C. dryas specimens, male YPM MAM 16890 and female YPM MAM 17066, were compared to previously described C. dryas and "C. salongo" specimens, along with a broader guenon comparative sample (cranial sample n = 146, dental sample n = 102). Qualitative and quantitative assessments were made on the basis of commonly noted pelage features as well as craniodental characters in the form of shape ratios and multivariate discriminant analyses. RESULTS: s, and display tall molar cusps; these osteological characters, along with pelage features, are shared with known "C. salongo" specimens. Discriminant analyses of dental features separate C. dryas/salongo specimens from all other guenons. DISCUSSION: In addition to pelage-based evidence, direct osteological evidence suggests "C. salongo" is a junior synonym of C. dryas. Combined with molecular analyses suggesting C. dryas is most closely related to Chlorocebus spp., we emend the species diagnosis and support its transfer to Chlorocebus or possibly a new genus to reflect its distinctiveness

Biology · Climate change · Structural basin · Taxonomy (biology) · Younger Dryas · Zoology · Ecology · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Geology · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

Tools

Open DOI