Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Gradual phyletic evolution at the generic level in early Eocene omomyid primates

Nature volume 309, pages 250–252 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Analysis of dental morphology in over 600 stratigraphically controlled specimens of tarsier-like primates from early Eocene strata in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, provides important new data for understanding the tempo and mode of evolution in primates. Here we describe two evolutionary transitions at the generic level in separate lineages of the family Omomyidae. In both lines transformation occurred not only continuously (rather than by abrupt appearance of new morphologies followed by stasis), but also in mosaic fashion, with greater variation in certain characters preceding a shift to another character state. In one lineage this resulted in a significant change in dental adaptation. These data support a gradual model of dental evolution and are inconsistent with the punctuated equilibria model. Together with other reported cases, the data suggest that gradualism is much more prevalent than proponents of punctuated equilibria have argued.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gingerich, P. D. Nature 248, 107–109 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gingerich, P. D. Am. J. Sci. 276, 1–28 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gingerich, P. D. A. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. 8, 407–424 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gingerich, P. D. & Simons, E. L. Contr. Mus. Paleont, Univ. Mich. 24, 245–279 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gingerich, P. D. & Gunnell, G. F. Contr. Mus. Paleont. Univ. Mich. 25, 125–153 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bookstein, F. L., Gingerich, P. D. & Kluge, A. G. Paleobiology 4, 120–134 (1978).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bown, T. M. Mem. geol. Surv. Wyo. 2, 1–151 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bown, T. M. & Kihm, A. J. J. Paleont. 55, 257–270 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rose, K. D. Univ. Mich. Pap. Paleont. 26, 1–197 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schankler, D. M. Nature 293, 135–138 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gould, S. J. & Eldredge, N. Paleobiology 3, 115–151 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Stanley, S. M. Macroevolution (Freeman, San Francisco, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bown, T. M. Folia primatol. 25, 62–72 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bown, T. M. Univ. Wyo. Contr. Geol. 13, 19–26 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jepsen, G. L. Proc. Am. phil. Soc. 69, 117–131 (1930).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cope, E. D. Proc. Am. phil. Soc. 20, 139–197 (1882).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Matthew, W. D. Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 34, 429–483 (1915).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Simons, E. L. Primate Evolution (Macmillan, New York, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Szalay, F. S. Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 156, 157–450 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gingerich, P. D. J. hum. Evol. 10, 345–374 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Szalay, F. S. & Delson, E. Evolutionary History of the Primates (Academic, New York, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Szalay, F. S. Folia primatol. 37, 153–162 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Schankler, D. M. Univ. Mich. Pap. Paleont. 24, 99–114 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Savage, D. E., Russell, D. E. & Waters, B. T. Géobios Mém. spéc. 1, 159–164 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gazin, C. L. Smithson. misc. Collns 144, no. 1, 1–98 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Savage, D. E., Waters, B. T. & Hutchison, J. H. in Field Conference on Tertiary Biostratigraphy of Southern and Western Wyoming (ed. West, R. M.) (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Eldredge, N. & Gould, S. J. in Models in Paleobiology (ed. Schopf, T. J. M.) (Freeman, San Francisco, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Vrba, E. S. S. Afr. J. Sci. 76, 61–84 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stebbins, G. L. Evolution 36, 1109–1118 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Mayr, E. Evolution 36, 1119–1132 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Schopf, T. J. M. Evolution 36, 1144–1157 (1982).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Levinton, J. S. & Simon, C. M. Syst. Zool. 29, 130–142 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Williamson, P. G. Nature 293, 437–443 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Stanley, S. M. Evolution 36, 460–473 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Charlesworth, B., Lande, R. & Slatkin, M. Evolution 36, 474–498 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ozawa, T. Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ., ser. D. Geol. 23, 117–164 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Dzik, J. & Trammer, J. Acta palaeont. pol. 25, 55–89 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Malmgren, B. A. & Kennett, J. P. Paleobiology 7, 230–240 (1981).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA

    Kenneth D. Rose

  2. Paleontology-Stratigraphy Branch, US Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, 80225, USA

    Thomas M. Bown

Authors
  1. Kenneth D. Rose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas M. Bown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rose, K., Bown, T. Gradual phyletic evolution at the generic level in early Eocene omomyid primates. Nature 309, 250–252 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/309250a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/309250a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing