RT Journal Article T1 The Medial Pterygoid Tubercle in the Atapuerca Early and Middle Pleistocene Mandibles: Evolutionary Implications A1 Bermúdez de Castro, José María A1 Quam, Rolf A1 Martinón Torres, María A1 Martínez, Ignacio A1 Gracia Téllez, Ana A1 Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis A1 Carbonell i Roura, Eudald AB Numerous studies have attempted to identify the presence of uniquely derived (autoapomorphic) Neandertal features. Here, we deal with the medial pterygoid tubercle (MTP), which is usually present on the internal face of the ascending ramus of Neandertal specimens. Our study stems from the identification of a hypertrophied tubercle in ATD6-96, an Early Pleistocene mandible recovered from the TD6 level of the Atapuerca-Gran Dolina site and attributed to Homo antecessor. Our review of the literature and study of numerous original fossil specimens and high quality replicas confirm that the MTP occurs at a high frequency in Neandertals (ca. 89%) and is also present in over half (ca. 55%) of the Middle Pleistocene Sima de los Huesos (SH) hominins. In contrast, it is generally absent or minimally developed in other extinct hominins, but can be found in variable frequencies (