Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1991, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (04): 346-356.

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Comparative study on cranioface and brain case in Asian colobines

Peng Yanzhang, Pan Ruliang, Ye Zhizhang, Wang Hong   

  • Online:1991-12-15 Published:1991-12-15

Abstract: In order to study the differentiation of Asian colobines, fourteen variables measured oncranioface and brain case of 123 skulls, including Rhinopithecus, Presbytis, Presbytiscus, Pyga-thrix, and Nasalis, were dealt with by one-way, cluster and discriminant analyses. Informationof the paleoenvironment changes in China and southern East Asian since the late Tertiary wasused to examine the influences for migratory way and distribution range in Asian colobines.The cladogram among different genera of Asian colobines was made from the results of var-ious analyses. It was suggested that some new points or revisions should be made as follows:
1. Following the second migratory way, ancient species of Asian colobines perhaps pass-ed through Xizang along the northern bank of Tethys sea and Heng-Duan Shan regions,Yunnan. Because ancient continent connected Yunnan and Xizang had already located in eastbank of Tethys sea. the evolution of Asian colobines could have existed in two original centers,i.e. Sundaland and Heng-Duan Shan regions of China.
2. Pygathrix possesses a lot of similarities with Presbytiscus, but it is less correlated withRhinopithecus.1f the revision comnbined Pygathrix with other two genera shown byGroves(1970)is correct, only Pygathrix and Presbytiscus can be put together.
3. Nasalis(2n=48) may be the most primitive genus in Asian colobines. Some featureswere shared with Rhinopithecus, for example, body size, terrestrial activities and limb pro-portion etc., were considered as common inheritance of symplesiomor phous characters.
4. Rhinopithecus, without reference to cranioface and brain case or the origin, is the mostspecial genus in Asian colobines. It may represent the highestlevel of evolutionary positionamong various genera in Asian colobines (Peng et al., 1985).

Key words: Asian colobines; Cranioface and brain case; Comparative study