Comment on the paleobiology and classification of Ardipithecus ramidus.
White and colleagues (Research Articles, 2 October 2009, pp. 64-106 and www.sciencemag.org/ardipithecus) reported Ardipithecus ramidus as an exclusive member of the human lineage post-African ape divergence. However, their analysis of shared-derived characters provides insufficient evidence of an ancestor-descendant relationship and exclusivity to the hominid lineage. Molecular and anatomical studies rather suggest that Ar. ramidus predates the human/African ape divergence.
Sarmiento
Esteban E
EE
Human Evolution Foundation, East Brunswick, NJ 08816, USA. este444@yahoo.com
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D010161:Paleodontology; D013995:Time