Paleontological Research in the Lower Miocene of Northeast Uganda

这项研究的目的是通过对乌干达东北部遗址的古生物学研究，更好地了解类人猿和其他灵长类动物的早期进化。乌干达的化石遗址发现了已知最古老的现代猿类，以及最古老的旧大陆猴和许多其他灵长类动物和哺乳动物。特别令人感兴趣的是象猿。对这只2000万年前的猿类化石的分析显示，与来自肯尼亚的同时期灵长类动物（整体身体结构与猴子相似）不同，猿猿可能像其现代亲戚一样，具有直立姿势和摆动手臂的行为。对直立姿势和前肢悬空的适应表明古猿与现存猿类和人类有着密切的关系。此外，作为已知表现出这些适应性的最古老猿类，猿古猿是了解它们起源的关键。关于Morotopithecus还有很多有待确定的地方，包括它与现存和化石猿物种的关系，它的古环境背景和解剖结构。研究将包括实地收集更多化石，以及对乌干达遗址的地质和古生态学进行调查。后者将提供关于进化事件的时间以及猿人和其他哺乳动物进化的条件的关键背景数据。这项研究的更广泛影响包括四名妇女（私家侦探和三名高级人员）的参与以及对美国和乌干达学生的培训。东非虽然是“人类的摇篮”，但历史上很少有东非人参与古人类研究。

The aim of this study is to better understand the early evolution of apes and other primates through paleontological research at sites in northeastern Uganda. The Ugandan fossil sites have yielded the oldest known ape of modern appearance, as well as the oldest Old World monkey and numerous other primates and mammals. Of particular interest is Morotopithecus bishopi. Analysis of fossils of this 20-million year old ape has revealed that unlike contemporaneous primates from Kenya who resembled monkeys in overall body plan, Morotopithecus would have engaged in upright postures and arm swinging behaviors like its modern relatives. The adaptations for upright posture and forelimb suspension suggest a close relationship between Morotopithecus and living apes and humans. Furthermore, as the oldest known ape to exhibit these adaptations, Morotopithecus is key to understanding their origins. Much remains to be determined about Morotopithecus including its relationship to both living and fossil ape species, its paleoenvironmental context and its anatomy. Research will include field collection of more fossils, as well as investigation of the geology and paleoecology of the Ugandan sites. The latter will provide crucial contextual data on the timing of evolutionary events and on the conditions under which Morotopithecus and other mammals evolved. Broader impacts of the study include the participation of four women (the P.I. and 3 senior personnel) and the training of American and Ugandan students. Although East Africa is "the cradle of humanity", historically few East Africans have participated in paleoanthropological research.