The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda

Laura M. MacLatchy; Susanne M. Cote; Alan L. Deino; Robert M. Kityo; Amon A.T. Mugume; James B. Rossie; William J. Sanders; Miranda N. Cosman; Steven G. Driese; David L. Fox; April J. Freeman; Rutger J.W. Jansma; Kirsten E.H. Jenkins; Rahab N. Kinyanjui; William E. Lukens; Kieran P. McNulty; Alice Novello; Daniel J. Peppe; Caroline A.E. Strömberg; Kevin T. Uno; Alisa J. Winkler; John D. Kingston

doi:10.1126/SCIENCE.ABQ2835

The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda

Laura M. MacLatchy, Susanne M. Cote, Alan L. Deino, Robert M. Kityo, Amon A.T. Mugume, James B. Rossie, William J. Sanders, Miranda N. Cosman, Steven G. Driese, David L. Fox, April J. Freeman, Rutger J.W. Jansma, Kirsten E.H. Jenkins, Rahab N. Kinyanjui, William E. Lukens, Kieran P. McNulty, Alice Novello, Daniel J. Peppe, Caroline A.E. Strömberg, Kevin T. UnoAlisa J. Winkler, John D. Kingston

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Abstract

Living hominoids are distinguished by upright torsos and versatile locomotion. It is hypothesized that these features evolved for feeding on fruit from terminal branches in forests. To investigate the evolutionary context of hominoid adaptive origins, we analyzed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies in conjunction with hominoid fossils from the Moroto II site in Uganda. The data indicate seasonally dry woodlands with the earliest evidence of abundant C₄ grasses in Africa based on a confirmed age of 21 million years ago (Ma). We demonstrate that the leaf-eating hominoid Morotopithecus consumed water-stressed vegetation, and postcrania from the site indicate ape-like locomotor adaptations. These findings suggest that the origin of hominoid locomotor versatility is associated with foraging on leaves in heterogeneous, open woodlands rather than forests.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	eabq2835
Journal	Science
Volume	380
Issue number	6641
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.ABQ2835
State	Published - Apr 14 2023

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MacLatchy, L. M., Cote, S. M., Deino, A. L., Kityo, R. M., Mugume, A. A. T., Rossie, J. B., Sanders, W. J., Cosman, M. N., Driese, S. G., Fox, D. L., Freeman, A. J., Jansma, R. J. W., Jenkins, K. E. H., Kinyanjui, R. N., Lukens, W. E., McNulty, K. P., Novello, A., Peppe, D. J., Strömberg, C. A. E., ... Kingston, J. D. (2023). The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda. Science, 380(6641), Article eabq2835. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.ABQ2835

MacLatchy, LM, Cote, SM, Deino, AL, Kityo, RM, Mugume, AAT, Rossie, JB, Sanders, WJ, Cosman, MN, Driese, SG, Fox, DL, Freeman, AJ, Jansma, RJW, Jenkins, KEH, Kinyanjui, RN, Lukens, WE, McNulty, KP, Novello, A, Peppe, DJ, Strömberg, CAE, Uno, KT, Winkler, AJ & Kingston, JD 2023, 'The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda', Science, vol. 380, no. 6641, eabq2835. https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.ABQ2835

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title = "The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda",

abstract = "Living hominoids are distinguished by upright torsos and versatile locomotion. It is hypothesized that these features evolved for feeding on fruit from terminal branches in forests. To investigate the evolutionary context of hominoid adaptive origins, we analyzed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies in conjunction with hominoid fossils from the Moroto II site in Uganda. The data indicate seasonally dry woodlands with the earliest evidence of abundant C4 grasses in Africa based on a confirmed age of 21 million years ago (Ma). We demonstrate that the leaf-eating hominoid Morotopithecus consumed water-stressed vegetation, and postcrania from the site indicate ape-like locomotor adaptations. These findings suggest that the origin of hominoid locomotor versatility is associated with foraging on leaves in heterogeneous, open woodlands rather than forests.",

author = "MacLatchy, {Laura M.} and Cote, {Susanne M.} and Deino, {Alan L.} and Kityo, {Robert M.} and Mugume, {Amon A.T.} and Rossie, {James B.} and Sanders, {William J.} and Cosman, {Miranda N.} and Driese, {Steven G.} and Fox, {David L.} and Freeman, {April J.} and Jansma, {Rutger J.W.} and Jenkins, {Kirsten E.H.} and Kinyanjui, {Rahab N.} and Lukens, {William E.} and McNulty, {Kieran P.} and Alice Novello and Peppe, {Daniel J.} and Str{\"o}mberg, {Caroline A.E.} and Uno, {Kevin T.} and Winkler, {Alisa J.} and Kingston, {John D.}",

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doi = "10.1126/SCIENCE.ABQ2835",

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AU - MacLatchy, Laura M.

AU - Cote, Susanne M.

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AU - Kityo, Robert M.

AU - Mugume, Amon A.T.

AU - Rossie, James B.

AU - Sanders, William J.

AU - Cosman, Miranda N.

AU - Driese, Steven G.

AU - Fox, David L.

AU - Freeman, April J.

AU - Jansma, Rutger J.W.

AU - Jenkins, Kirsten E.H.

AU - Kinyanjui, Rahab N.

AU - Lukens, William E.

AU - McNulty, Kieran P.

AU - Novello, Alice

AU - Peppe, Daniel J.

AU - Strömberg, Caroline A.E.

AU - Uno, Kevin T.

AU - Winkler, Alisa J.

AU - Kingston, John D.

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The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda

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