This paleomammalogy list records new fossil mammal taxa that were described during the year 2020, as well as notes other significant paleomammalogy discoveries and events which occurred during the year.
Afrotherians Proboscidea Proboscidea research A study on dietary differences among Pleistocene proboscideans in North America, and their implications for the knowledge of the causes of extinction of Cuvieronius, is published by Smith & DeSantis (2020). Evidence of dietary resource partitioning among three proboscidean taxa from the early Pliocene locality of Langebaanweg in South Africa (Anancus capensis, Mammuthus subplanifrons and Loxodonta cookei) is presented by Groenewald et al. (2020). A study on the morphology of teeth and mandible of "Serridentinus" gobiensis and Miomastodon tongxinensis, as well as on the phylogenetic affinities of these taxa, is published by Wang, Zhang & Li (2020), who reestablish Miomastodon as a genus distinct from Zygolophodon, and transfer S. gobiensis to the genus Miomastodon. update headers and lead A study on the phylogeography of the American mastodon, based on data from 35 complete mitochondrial genomes, is published by Karpinski et al. (2020).
Sirenia Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes ImagesTrichechus hesperamazonicusSp. novValidPerini, Nascimento & CozzuolLate PleistoceneRio Madeira FormationA manatee.
Sirenian research The hindlimbs of the quadrupedal sirenian Sobrarbesiren cardieli from the Eocene of Northeastern Spain are described in detail with suggestions on the aquatic locomotion of the species. Review of the Miocene sirenian fossil record from Sardinia is published by Carone & Rizzo, with referral of specimens to Metaxytherium cf. M. krahuletzi, and reaffirmation of "Metaxytherium lovisati" as nomen dubium.
Other afrotherians Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images Stylolophus majorSp. novValidGheerbrant et al.Eocene (Ypresian)Ouled AbdounAn early member of Embrithopoda. Announced in 2020; the final article version was published in 2021.
Miscellaneous afrotherian research A study on the anatomy of the petrosal and inner ear of Ocepeia daouiensis is published by Gheerbrant, Schmitt & Billet (2020).
Euarchontoglires Primates Name Novelty Status Authors Age Type locality Country Notes Images Fanchangia Gen. et sp. nov Valid Harrison et al. Early Miocene A member of Pliopithecoidea. Genus includes new species F. jini.KapiGen. et sp. novValidGilbert et al.MioceneA catarrhine of uncertain affinities; originally identified as a gibbon, but subsequently argued to be a pliopithecoid. Genus includes new species K. ramnagarensis. Nesomomys Gen. et sp. nov Valid Beard et al. Eocene (Lutetian) Uzunçarşidere A member of the family Omomyidae. Genus includes new species N. bunodens. Announced in 2020; the final version of the article naming was published in 2021.UcayalipithecusGen. et sp. novValidSeiffert et al.PaleogeneSanta Rosa localityA member of the family Parapithecidae. Genus includes new species U. perdita.
General primate research A study aiming to determine whether the relationship between primate brain size and brain shape is characterized by allometry, and whether any such relationship may reflect shared macroevolutionary trends in primate brain shape, based on data from extant and four fossil primates (Homo heidelbergensis, Australopithecus africanus, Antillothrix bernensis and Archaeolemur sp.), is published by Sansalone et al. (2020). Marigó et al. (2020) describe navicular bones of Anchomomys frontanyensis from the Eocene fossil site of Sant Jaume de Frontanyà-3C (Barcelona, Spain), representing first known navicular bones of an Eocene euprimate from Europe, and evaluate the implications of these fossils for the knowledge of early patterns of locomotor evolution in primates. A study evaluating the potential impact of a large-scale mid-Cenozoic extinction and diversification event on lemurs from Madagascar, based on comparison of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Madagascar in the Holocene to that of early Cenozoic continental Africa and on phylogenetic modeling, is published by Godfrey et al. (2020). Virtual endocast of a specimen of Necrolemur antiquus is presented by Harrington, Yapuncich & Boyer (2020), who compare the endocast morphology of N. antiquus with those of other Eocene primates. New fossil material of Ganlea megacanina is described by Jaeger et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships of amphipithecine primates, and interpret amphipithecines as stem anthropoids. A study on the anatomy of the talus of Paralouatta marianae and P. varonai, evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the locomotor behaviors of these primate (especially for the knowledge whether or not Paralouatta represents the first known semi-terrestrial platyrrhine), is published by Püschel et al. (2020). New specimens of Mesopithecus pentelicus, representing the easternmost occurrence of this genus to date, are described from the Miocene site of Shuitangba (Yunnan, China) by Jablonski et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of these fossils for the knowledge of primate dispersals and paleoecology in the late Miocene. A study on the evolution of the vestibular apparatus in hominoids and on the utility of the study of the inner ear morphology for reconstructions of phylogenetic relationships of fossil apes, based on data from extant anthropoids and two fossil taxa (Oreopithecus and Australopithecus), is published by Urciuoli et al. (2020). A study on the biomechanical performance of the patella of Pierolapithecus catalaunicus is published by Pina et al. (2020). A study reevaluating the anatomical evidence for bipedalism in Danuvius guggenmosi is published by Williams et al. (2020). A study on the ecology of fossil hominins and co-existing primates in the Turkana Basin area (circa 4 to 2 Ma), based on data from tooth enamel stable calcium isotope values, is published by Martin et al. (2020).
Paleoanthropological research A study on the impact caused by hard plant tissues in contact with tooth enamel is published by van Casteren et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of their findings for the knowledge of the diet of early hominins. A study on the mandible morphology, chewing biomechanics and probable diet of early hominins is published by Marcé-Nogué et al. (2020). A study on metacarpal trabecular and cortical bone in early hominins, and on its implications for the knowledge of diversity in hominin hand use (especially in Australopithecus sediba), is published by Dunmore et al. (2020). A study on the phalangeal curvature of a chimpanzee who was raised during the 1930s to live much like a human, having very few opportunities to engage in arboreal activities, is published by Wallace, Burgess & Patel (2020), who attempt to determine the extent to which phalangeal curvature is shaped by arboreal locomotion during life relative to genetic factors, and evaluate the implications of their findings for the interpretations of phalangeal curvature among fossil hominins. A study on the evolution of human brain size, shape, and asymmetry, based on data from apes and from species belonging to the genus Homo, is published by Melchionna et al. (2020), who report evidence indicating a significant shift in the rate of brain shape evolution in the clade including modern humans, Neanderthals and Homo heidelbergensis. Two hominin skulls, representing the earliest definitive occurrence of Paranthropus robustus and the earliest occurrence of a cranium with clear affinities to Homo erectus reported so far, are described from Drimolen (South Africa) by Herries et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as evidence that Homo, Paranthropus and Australopithecus were contemporaneous at ~2 million years ago. A study on the locomotion of two hominins from the Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa (Australopithecus africanus and a geologically younger hominin of uncertain phylogenetic placement, either Paranthropus robustus or a member of the genus Homo), testing for evidence of committed terrestrial bipedalism and for significant bouts of climbing, is published by Georgiou et al. (2020). A study on changes of the diet of the hominins from the Shungura and Usno Formations (Ethiopia) through time, as indicated by carbon isotope data, is published by Wynn et al. (2020). A study on the maturational pattern of Paranthropus robustus, based on data from fossils from the Kromdraai B cave site (South Africa), is published by Cazenave et al. (2020), who report evidence indicating that P. robustus had a maturational pattern that more closely approached the extant ape rather than the human condition. A study on the histology of a third permanent molar of a specimen of Paranthropus robustus from the Swartkrans site (South Africa), evaluating its implications for the knowledge of the timing of teeth maturation in this hominin, is published by Dean et al. (2020). An approximately 2-million-year-old skull of a male Paranthropus robustus is described from the Drimolen Main Quarry by Martin et al. (2020), who argue that the morphology of this specimen refutes existing hypotheses of sexual dimorphism in this hominin, and instead documents microevolutionary changes within this species. Detailed comparative description of the DNH 7 skull from Drimolen is published by Rak et al. (2020). Richmond et al. (2020) report the first associated hand and upper limb skeleton of Paranthropus boisei from the Ileret site (Kenya). A study aiming to determine the length of the Achilles tendon in Australopithecus is published by McNutt & DeSilva (2020). A study on the anatomy of the atlas of the Australopithecus specimen Stw 573 ("Little Foot") and an additional Australopithecus specimen StW 679 from the Sterkfontein Member 4 (South Africa, evaluating their implications for the knowledge of kinematics of head-neck movements and blood supply contributing to brain metabolism in Australopithecus is published by Beaudet et al. (2020). A study on brain organization and growth in Australopithecus afarensis is published by Gunz et al. (2020). A 1.4-million-y-old large bone fragment shaped into handaxe-like form is described from the Konso Formation (Ethiopia) by Sano et al. (2020), expanding the documented technological repertoire of African Early Pleistocene Homo. An assemblage of immature remains of Homo naledi, including the first partial skeleton of a juvenile member of this species, is reported from the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave (South Africa) by Bolter et al. (2020). Bolter & Cameron (2020) utilize the methods used to study human growth and development for the reconstruction of ontogeny of Homo naledi. A study on the morphology of the mandibular premolars of Homo naledi, and on its implications for the knowledge of possible evolutionary links between H. naledi and hominins from Sterkfontein and Swartkrans, is published by Davies et al. (2020). A study on the timing of the first appearance of Homo erectus at the Sangiran site (Indonesia) is published by Matsu'ura et al. (2020). Semaw et al. (2020) report the discovery of crania of Homo erectus and both Acheulean and Oldowan artifacts at the Busidima North and Dana Aoule North sites (Gona, Afar, Ethiopia), and interpret these findings as evidence of behavioral diversity and flexibility of H. erectus. Reconstruction of the thorax of the juvenile H. erectus skeleton KNM-WT 15000 from Nariokotome (Kenya) is presented by Bastir et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of the anatomy of this individual for the knowledge of the evolution of the modern human body shape. A study on the anatomy of the Dali Man is published by Wu (2020).