Maxillary and frontal sinuses in Eurasian Miocene hominoids: phylogenetic implications

Abstract

The paranasal sinuses (maxillary, frontal, ethmoidal and sphenoidal) are cavities in the facial skeleton of vertebrates. The study of maxillary and frontal sinuses in Eurasian Miocene hominoids constitutes a very useful tool in phylogenetic analysis. In this work, the available evidence of these structures in fossil great apes of the Vallès-Penedès (Anoiapithecus, Hispanopithecus and Pierolapithecus) is reviewed. The results are relevant for the study of the phylogenetic position of these genera. Differences between these primates, mainly in the frontal sinus features, confi rm the relationship of Hispanopithecus with pongines. The confi guration of Anoiapithecus and Pierolapithecus fi ts with that of great apes, with Anoiapithecus displaying a more primitive character state in the frontal sinus.