Research • A study on the timing of the diversification of
placental mammals based on genomic data, indicating that the placentals underwent a continuous radiation across the
Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary without apparent interruption by the
Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, is published by Liu
et al. (2017). • A study on the completeness of the
eutherian fossil record, intending to establish whether the lack of placental mammal fossils in the
Cretaceous is more likely to be caused by poor fossil record or by genuine absence of placental mammals in the Cretaceous, is published by Davies
et al. (2017). • Revision of the fossil material of the species assigned to the
basal eutherian genus
Prokennalestes and a study on their
morphological and size variability is published by Lopatin & Averianov (2017). • A study on the impact of biotic (competition pressure) and abiotic factors (environmental change) on the evolutionary success, decline and extinction of large fossil herbivorous mammals from North America, Europe and
Turkana Basin in Africa is published by Žliobaitė, Fortelius & Stenseth (2017). • A study on the impacts of temperature and human activities in causing extirpations on local and regional scales, as well as on the causes of the extinction or major extirpations of four
megafauna mammalian groups (i.e. mammoth, rhinoceros, horse and deer) in the Late
Pleistocene and
Holocene, is published by Wang & Zhang (2017). • A study of the phylogenetic relationships of the
Paleocene placental mammals is published by Halliday, Upchurch and Goswami (2017). • A study on the impact of the
Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 on the evolution of the body size in four placental lineages, especially in the early
equid lineage
Arenahippus pernix, is published by D'Ambrosia
et al. (2017). • A study evaluating whether the extinction of the
Pleistocene megafauna of
North America was caused by rapid overhunting after the appearance of humans by comparing the dates of the last appearances of megafauna and first appearances of humans across North America is published by Emery-Wetherell, McHorse & Davis (2017). • Menéndez
et al. (2017) infer the climatic variables for the middle
Miocene of the Somosaguas vertebrate fossil site (
Spain) on the basis of the body size structure of the mammal fauna known from the site, which is intimately related to climate and vegetation. • Carnivore marks are identified on mammal bones from the
Pleistocene of
Argentina, including three
ground sloth bones and one
toxodontid bone, by Chichkoyan
et al. (2017). • Description of the
osteology of the skull of the
pampathere Holmesina floridanus based on the fossils from the
Blancan of
Florida is published by Gaudin & Lyon (2017). • A study on the diet of
Pleistocene glyptodonts and
ground sloths from the
Pleistocene of
Argentina as indicated by
δ13C values in bone collagen and carbonate is published by Bocherens
et al. (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic placement of members of the genus
Thalassocnus within
Megatheria is published by Amson, de Muizon & Gaudin (2017). • Description of new
mylodontine sloth remains from the late
Pleistocene of
Ecuador and
Peru and a revision of the taxonomy of the genus
Glossotherium is published by De Iuliis
et al. (2017), who consider
Glossotherium tropicorum to be a valid species. • A study on a specimen of
Stegomastodon platensis (or
Notiomastodon platensis) recovered from
Pleistocene fluvial sediments in the Santiago Basin (
Chile), recovering life history information relating to the final four years of life and the season of death, is published by El Adli
et al. (2017). • An incomplete juvenile skull of
Gomphotherium wimani from the
Miocene Hujialiang Formation and cheek teeth of a member of the same species from the Miocene
Dongxiang Formation (
China) are described by Yang, Li & Wang (2017). • A study on the dietary differences between members of the genera
Sinomastodon,
Stegodon and
Elephas from the
Pleistocene of South
China is published by Zhang
et al. (2017). • Pleistocene
proboscidean remains associated with human teeth are described from the Mawokou Cave (
Guizhou,
China) by Wang
et al. (2017), who assign this fossil material to the species
Stegodon orientalis and
Elephas maximus. • A study on the population dynamics of the
mammoths and
mastodons in the North American Midwest during the late
Pleistocene and the possible causes of their regional extinction is published by Widga
et al. (2017). • A study on the regional variability of the diet of the American
mastodon (
Mammut americanum) is published by Green, DeSantis & Smith (2017). • Meyer
et al. (2017) report the recovery of full mitochondrial genomes from four and partial nuclear genomes from two fossils of the
straight-tusked elephant (
Palaeoloxodon antiquus), the analysis of which indicated that the straight-tusked elephant was a close relative of the
African forest elephant. • A study on the detrimental mutations in members of the relict,
Holocene population of the
woolly mammoth from the
Wrangel Island prior to the extinction of the population is published by Rogers & Slatkin (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the late
Pleistocene woolly mammoth populations based on the data set of 143 mammoth mitochondrial genomes is published by Chang
et al. (2017). • A study determining the sex of 98 woolly mammoth specimens collected at various locations throughout Siberia is published by Pečnerová
et al. (2017), who report a significant skew toward males among the studied specimens and search for possible explanations of the observed skew in sex ratio. • Fellows Yates
et al. (2017) identify and generate twenty woolly mammoth mitochondrial genomes based on Late Pleistocene material from central Europe. • A study on the habitat preferences of the
desmostylians
Desmostylus and
Paleoparadoxia as indicated by their fossil occurrences is published by Matsui
et al. (2017). • A study on the
humeral morphology of the desmostylians, intending to establish whether different desmostylian genera can be distinguished on the basis of their humeri, is published by Matsui (2017). • Description of cranial and postcranial remains of
Pyrotherium from the
Oligocene locality of Quebrada Fiera (
Mendoza Province,
Argentina) is published by Cerdeño & Vera (2017). • A study on the diversity of
bats of
Haiti through time based on fossil evidence is published by Soto-Centeno, Simmons & Steadman (2017). • A study on the body size variation in
Neogene odd-toed ungulates and
even-toed ungulates from Europe and North America and on whether it is correlated with origination and/or extinction rates across
clades and regions is published by Huang
et al. (2017). • A redescription of the skull anatomy of the holotype specimen of
Eoastrapostylops riolorense, with an emphasis on the auditory region, is published by Kramarz, Bond & Rougier (2017), who interpret this species as a member of a
basal meridiungulate lineage that diverged before the differentiation among
astrapotheres,
pyrotheres and
notoungulates. • A description of the
microstructure of the
tooth enamel of
Carodnia vieirai is published by Bergqvist & von Koenigswald (2017). • A fossil of the
litoptern species
Neolicaphrium recens is described from the
Pleistocene deposits of the Río Dulce (
Santiago del Estero Province,
Argentina) by Gaudioso
et al. (2017), representing the northernmost and westernmost record of the species. • A nearly complete
mitochondrial genome of the litoptern
Macrauchenia patachonica is recovered by Westbury
et al. (2017). • A study on variation in teeth growth and eruption in
notoungulates in the context of geological, climatic and environmental changes taking place in
South America from the late
Paleocene onwards is published by Gomes Rodrigues, Herrel & Billet (2017). • A systematic revision of members of the family
Archaeopithecidae from the
Eocene of Patagonia (
Argentina) is published by Vera (2017), who recognizes
Archaeopithecus rogeri as the only valid species. • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
hegetotheriid notoungulates, as well as their possible ancestral area and
vicariance,
dispersal and extinction events, is published by Seoane, Roig Juñent & Cerdeño (2017). • Revision of the content of the hegetotheriid species
Prohegetotherium sculptum based on a reexamination of the type specimens and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of hegetotheriids is published by Kramarz & Bond (2017). • Description of a skeleton of
Thomashuxleya externa with a well-preserved skull and jaws associated with postcrania, recovered from the
Eocene of Cañadón Vaca (
Argentina), and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Carrillo & Asher (2017). • A study comparing tooth
morphology and development in
mesotheriid notoungulates and extant
gundis is published by Gomes Rodrigues
et al. (2017). • A study on the diet of the three most abundant ungulates from the
La Brea Tar Pits (
Bison antiquus,
Camelops hesternus and
Equus occidentalis) is published by Jones & DeSantis (2017). • Description of the
morphology of the skeleton of
Hyrachyus modestus is published by Bai
et al. (2017). • A description of new fossil material of the
helaletid tapiroids Paracolodon fissus and
Desmatotherium mongoliense from the
Eocene Irdin Manha Formation (
Inner Mongolia,
China) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of these species is published by Bai
et al. (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the
rhinoceros genus
Stephanorhinus based on ancient protein sequences is published by Welker
et al. (2017). • Skull of
Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis is described from the
Chondon River valley (Arctic
Yakutia,
Russia) by Kirillova
et al. (2017), representing the first find of a member of the genus
Stephanorhinus above the
Arctic Circle. • A study on the incidence of developmental abnormalities in the neck vertebrae (the presence of cervical ribs) in the late Pleistocene population of the
woolly rhinoceros (
Coelodonta antiquitatis) is published by van der Geer & Galis (2017). • Skeleton of a pregnant mare of
Eurohippus messelensis with preserved soft tissues is described from the
Eocene Messel pit (
Germany) by Franzen & Habersetzer (2017). • A study on the
speciation rates and the evolution of body size and tooth
morphology in
Neogene and
Quaternary radiation of horses is published by Cantalapiedra
et al. (2017). • A study on the fossil horse
metapodials, testing how locomotor bone stresses changed with digit reduction and increasing body size across the horse lineage, is published by McHorse, Biewener & Pierce (2017). • A study on the
ontogenetic changes in the teeth of the late
Miocene hipparionines based on fossils from
Fugu (
Shaanxi,
China) is published by Li
et al. (2017). • A study on the diet and habitat of specimens of
Dinohippus mexicanus and
Neohipparion eurystyle known from the late
Hemphillian localities in central
Mexico as indicated by stable carbon and oxygen isotopes determined in
molar enamel is published by Pérez-Crespo
et al. (2017). • A study on the number of species of horses that inhabited the Western Interior of North America prior to the end-
Pleistocene extinction, based on cheek tooth
morphology and
ancient mtDNA, is published by Barrón-Ortiz
et al. (2017). • A study on the growth pattern of the first lower
molar in extant and extinct species of
Equus and its relationship with life history events is published by Nacarino-Meneses
et al. (2017). • A study on the morphology of the
middle ear and
bony labyrinth of the
anoplotheriid even-toed ungulate Diplobune minor and their implications for the locomotion of members of this species is published by Orliac, Araújo & Lihoreau (2017). • Fossils of a member of the
camelid genus
Hemiauchenia are described from the late
Pliocene of
Argentina by Gasparini
et al. (2017), representing the oldest record of the tribe
Lamini in
South America reported so far. • DNA sequence data is generated for samples of 12
flat-headed peccary specimens from the
Sheriden Cave (
Ohio,
United States) by Perry
et al. (2017). • A study on the
morphology of the
bony labyrinth of extant and extinct
deers and on the phylogenetic relationships of fossil deers is published by Mennecart
et al. (2017). • Deer fossil (almost complete
humerus) is reported from the late
Miocene sedimentary sequence of the
Bira Formation at Hagal Stream (western margin of the Jordan Valley,
Israel) by Rozenbaum
et al. (2017), representing the first record of a terrestrial mammal reported from the sequence. • An
ossicone and postcranial remains of
giraffes of uncertain specific assignment are described from the
Miocene of the
Potwar Plateau (
Pakistan) by Danowitz, Barry & Solounias (2017). •
Mouflon bones are reported from the late
Pleistocene of eastern
Jordan by Yeomans, Martin & Richter (2017). • A study on the diet of the
Miocene bovid Hezhengia bohlini as indicated by
enamel microwear is published by Semprebon, Solounias & Tao (2017). • A study on the timing of
bison arrival in North America as indicated by mitochondrial genomes extracted from fossil specimens is published by Froese
et al. (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of the
Pleistocene species
Bison schoetensacki as indicated by recovered ancient DNA is published by Palacio
et al. (2017). • Partial skeleton of a bison related to the
steppe bison is described from the middle
Holocene (~ 5,400 years ago) of
Yukon (
Canada) by Zazula
et al. (2017), confirming local survival of northern steppe bison populations into the Holocene. • Description of new
dental remains of the
anthracothere Hemimeryx blanfordi from Late
Oligocene deposits of the
Bugti Hills (
Chitarwata Formation,
Pakistan), representing the first undisputed Oligocene occurrence of the species, and a study on the
molar enamel microstructure and the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Lihoreau
et al. (2017). • Description of the
bony labyrinth of two
Eocene (
Lutetian)
protocetid specimens from Kpogamé (
Togo) and a study on the implications of the anatomy of the specimens for the hearing abilities of early whales is published by Mourlam & Orliac (2017). • A detailed description of the holotype specimen of
Cynthiacetus peruvianus and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of
archaeocetes (especially
basilosaurids) is published by Martínez-Cáceres, Lambert & de Muizon (2017). • A study on the anatomy of the
inner ear of
Oligocene mammalodontid and
aetiocetid cetaceans and their ability to detect low frequencies is published by Park
et al. (2017). • New Oligo-Miocene
eomysticetid specimens are described from
New Zealand by Boessenecker & Fordyce (2017), including a member of the genus
Waharoa from the earliest
Miocene (the most recent eomysticetid specimen reported so far). • Five
xenorophid specimens (four specimens belonging to the species
Albertocetus meffordorum and one member of the genus
Echovenator) are described from the
Oligocene of
North and
South Carolina (
United States) by Boessenecker, Ahmed & Geisler (2017). • Two teeth of a large toothed whale from the group
Physeteroidea (belonging or related to the genus
Zygophyseter) are described from the Middle or Upper
Miocene of Netherlands by Reumer, Mens & Post (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
Araeodelphis natator (
Miocene relative of the
South Asian river dolphin) is published by Godfrey, Barnes & Lambert (2017). • A study of the fossil record of the
mysticetes, testing when and how gigantism evolved in mysticetes, is published by Slater, Goldbogen & Pyenson (2017). • A study on the teeth sharpness and function in archaic mysticetes is published by Hocking
et al. (2017). • Exceptionally preserved
baleen apparatus of
Piscobalaena nana from the
Miocene Pisco Formation (
Peru) is described by Marx
et al. (2017). •
Pygmy right whale fossils are described from the
Pleistocene of
Italy and
Japan by Tsai
et al. (2017). • A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of the
Miocene balaenid Morenocetus parvus is published by Buono
et al. (2017). • A partial skull of a
right whale (a member or a relative of the genus
Eubalaena) is described from the
Pliocene Tjörnes Formation (
Iceland) by Field
et al. (2017). • A
Miocene breeding site for
Parietobalaena yamaokai known from
Itahashi Formation (
Japan) is reported by Tsai (2017). • The oldest known fossil of a
fin whale (a
tympanic bulla) is described from the Early
Pleistocene of Northern
California by Tsai & Boessenecker (2017). • A study on the correlates between the
morphology of the
calcaneum and the locomotor mode in extant
carnivorans, and their implications for determining the locomotor mode in extinct carnivorans and
creodonts, is published by Panciroli
et al. (2017). • A study on the morphology of the
primary teeth and teeth eruption sequence in
hyainailouroid hyaenodonts is published by Borths & Stevens (2017). • A study on the anatomy of the
bony labyrinth of
Hyaenodon exiguus and its implications for the
paleobiology of the species is published by Pfaff
et al. (2017). • An
incus of
Hyaenodon (the first known
auditory ossicle of this genus and of any
hyaenodont mammal so far) is described and compared to a large set of includes of extant
carnivorans by Bastl, Nagel & Solé (2017). • A study on the frequency of traumatic injuries across skeletal elements in the
saber-toothed cat Smilodon fatalis and the
dire wolf (
Canis dirus) from
La Brea Tar Pits is published by Brown
et al. (2017). • A revision of
canid fossils from the late
Pliocene site of
Kvabebi (
Georgia), revealing the co-occurrence of members of the genera
Nyctereutes,
Eucyon and
Vulpes, is published by Rook
et al. (2017). • A study on the morphological adaptations linked to grasping and digging ability, substrate preference and locomotory mode in the forelimb of
Cyonasua is published by Tarquini
et al. (2017). • A reevaluation of the
Miocene mustelid Hadrictis fricki is published by Valenciano
et al. (2017), who consider
Hadrictis to be a junior synonym of the genus
Eomellivora and transfer
H. fricki to the genus
Eomellivora. • An upper
carnassial of the
tayra (
Eira barbara) is described from the Late
Pleistocene of
Entre Ríos (
Argentina) by Schiaffini
et al. (2017). • Fossil
otter Enhydritherium terraenovae is reported from the late
Miocene deposits of Juchipila Basin (
Mexico) by Tseng
et al. (2017). • A study on the
mandibular feeding capability of the fossil otter
Siamogale melilutra is published by Tseng
et al. (2017). • Teeth and
humerus of the fossil otter
Lutra simplicidens are described from the early Middle
Pleistocene site of Voigtstedt (
Germany) by Cherin (2017). • A description of the skull and neck
morphology and a study on the feeding behaviour of the
bear dog Magericyon anceps is published by Siliceo
et al. (2017). • A revision of the fossil bear species
"Ursus" abstrusus Bjork (1970) based on new remains from the
Pliocene of
Ellesmere Island (
Nunavut,
Canada) is published by Wang
et al. (2017), who transfer this species to the genus
Protarctos. • A study on the absolute and relative brain size of the
cave bear (
Ursus spelaeus), comparing it with brain size of extant bear species, an on potential variables affecting their brain size evolution is published by Veitschegger (2017). • A study estimating the extinction time of the cave bear and
Ursus ingressus is published by Mackiewicz
et al. (2017). • A revision and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of the
Miocene earless seals assigned to the genera
Prophoca and
Leptophoca is published by Dewaele, Lambert & Louwye (2017). • A skull of
Hyaenictis aff.
almerai, representing the most complete European specimen of the genus, is described from the Miocene of Spain by Vinuesa
et al. (2017). • A study on the dietary ecology of the Pleistocene
hyena Crocuta crocuta ultima from
China, evaluating its similarity to the dietary ecology of the extant
spotted hyena, is published by DeSantis
et al. (2017). • A study on the evolution of the fore- and hindlimbs of sabretooth carnivorans is published by Martín-Serra, Figueirido & Palmqvist (2017). • A study on the growth of forelimb bones of
Smilodon fatalis as indicated by the anatomy of specimens recovered from the
La Brea Tar Pits is published by Long
et al. (2017). • Paijmans
et al. (2017) present partial
mitochondrial genomes of
Smilodon populator and members of the genus
Homotherium, and identify a late
Pleistocene (~28,000 years old)
mandible recovered from the Brown Bank region in the
North Sea as a fossil of a member of the genus
Homotherium. • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
"Felis" pamiri Ozansoy (1959) from the late Miocene of Turkey is published by Geraads & Peigné (2017). • A study on the braincase anatomy of the
American lion (
Panthera atrox) is published by Cuff, Stockey & Goswami (2017). • Cuff, Goswami & Hutchinson (2017) estimate the size of the musculature of the limbs and vertebral column of the American lion. • Fossils of a large
felid from the late Pleistocene localities at southern
Chile and
Argentina are interpreted as fossils of the American lion by Chimento & Agnolin (2017). • A study on the tooth
morphology of extant and extinct
murine and non-
arvicoline cricetid rodents and its implications for inferring the
paleoecology of the
Neogene rodents from southern
France and
Iberian Peninsula is published by Gomez Cano
et al. (2017). • First known fossil remains of the
Ilin Island cloudrunner (
Crateromys paulus) are described by Reyes
et al. (2017). • Description of new specimens of the
castorid rodent Propalaeocastor irtyshensis from the
Oligocene Irtysh River Formation (
China and a study on the phylogenetic relationships among early castorids is published by Li
et al. (2017). • Virtual
cranial endocast of the
Oligocene sciurid Cedromus wilsoni is reconstructed by Bertrand, Amador-Mughal & Silcox (2017). • The oldest known
plesiadapiform skeleton (partial skeleton of
Torrejonia wilsoni) is described from the early
Paleocene Nacimiento Formation (
New Mexico,
United States) by Chester
et al. (2017). • Report on the discovery of a
talus bone of
Donrussellia provincialis and a study on the anatomy of this bone and on the phylogenetic relationships of this species is published by Boyer, Toussaint & Godinot (2017). • A study on the locomotion and lifestyle of
Adapis parisiensis as indicated by
inner ear morphology is published by Bernardi & Couette (2017). • New material attributed to
Agerinia smithorum, consisting of isolated teeth and a fragment of
calcaneus, is described from the
Eocene locality of Casa Retjo-1 (
Spain) by Femenias-Gual
et al. (2017). • Jaws referred to the species
Notharctus tenebrosus are described from the middle
Eocene Sheep Pass Formation (
Nevada,
United States) by Perry, Gunnell & Emry (2017). • The first known nearly complete female skull of the
gelada subspecies
Theropithecus oswaldi leakeyi is described from the
Pleistocene site of Makuyuni (
Tanzania) by Frost
et al. (2017). • A study on the anatomy of the teeth of
Mesopithecus pentelicus and its implication for dietary preferences of members of the species is published by Thiery
et al. (2017). • New fossil material of
Krishnapithecus krishnaii is described from the late
Miocene of
Himachal Pradesh (
India) by Sankhyan, Kelley & Harrison (2017), who confirm the
pliopithecoid affinities of the species. • A study on the
morphology of the teeth and jaws of
Morotopithecus bishopi and
Afropithecus turkanensis, indicating them to be likely distinct species with dissimilar feeding adaptations, is published by Deane (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
Graecopithecus, indicating its possible affinity with hominins (humans and their non-ape ancestors), is published by Fuss
et al. (2017); a different analysis, aiming to refute the hypothesis that
Graecopithecus is a member of the hominin clade, is subsequently published by Benoit & Thackeray (2017). • A study on the age of the fossils of
Graecopithecus freybergi, and on the environmental conditions under which it thrived, is published by
Böhme et al. (2017). •
Putative tetrapod footprints with hominin-like characteristics are described from the late Miocene of
Crete (
Greece) by Gierliński
et al. (2017); the study is subsequently criticized by
Meldrum &
Sarmiento (2018) in regards to the interpretation of the putative footprints and by Zachariasse & Lourens (2022) in regards to their age. • A study on the evolution of body mass and stature of hominins is published by Will, Pablos & Stock (2017). • Partial skeleton of
Australopithecus afarensis, preserving all seven neck vertebrae and 12 rib-bearing vertebrae (like humans, rather than 13 like African apes) is described from
Dikika (
Ethiopia) by Ward
et al. (2017). • New fossils attributable to the species
Australopithecus anamensis are described from
Kanapoi (
Kenya) by Ward, Plavcan & Manthi (2017). • A study on the skeletal maturation of
Australopithecus sediba is published by Cameron
et al. (2017). • A study on the
morphology of the holotype skull of
Australopithecus sediba and its implications for the phylogenetic relationships of the species is published by Kimbel &
Rak (2017). • A study on the aridity in eastern Africa over the past 4.4 million years as indicated by oxygen isotope ratios in fossil herbivore
tooth enamel, and on its implications for inferring the role of climate in shaping early hominin environments, is published by Blumenthal
et al. (2017). • A study on the environmental changes in the lower
Awash Valley and
Turkana Basin from 3.5 to 1 million years ago (with a focus on the latest
Pliocene) based on new analyses of mammal communities and new stable carbon isotope data for mammalian
tooth enamel, including that of the earliest members of the genus
Homo, is published by Robinson
et al. (2017). • A study on the modified mammalian bones from the Plio–Pleistocene of
Ethiopia is published by Sahle, El Zaatari & White (2017), who interpret the marks on some of these bones as more likely to be produced by crocodiles than by
hominids using
stone tools. • A study on the
knapping skills of the hominins inhabiting North
China during early
Pleistocene as indicated by stone tools from the
Donggutuo locality is published by Yang
et al. (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
Homo floresiensis is published by Argue
et al. (2017). • A study on the age of the fossils of
Homo naledi is published by Dirks
et al. (2017). • New fossils of
Homo naledi are described from the Lesedi Chamber of the
Rising Star Cave system by
Hawks et al. (2017). • A study on the phylogenetic relationships of
Homo naledi as indicated by skull
morphology is published by Schroeder
et al. (2017). • Studies on the anatomy of the skeleton of
Homo naledi are published by Laird
et al. (2017), Williams
et al. (2017), Feuerriegel
et al. (2017) and Marchi
et al. (2017). • A study on the location, number, and severity of fractures in the teeth of
Homo naledi and their implications for the diet of the taxon is published by Towle, Irish & De Groote (2017). • A study on the body size, proportions and absolute and relative brain size in
Homo naledi is published by Garvin
et al. (2017). • A study on the tooth formation and eruption in
Homo naledi is published by Cofran & Walker (2017). • A
phenetic analysis of the fossils of
Homo naledi is published by Neves, Bernardo & Pantaleoni (2017), who consider both
Homo naledi and
Australopithecus sediba to be likely
junior synonyms of
Homo habilis. • A study on the age of the
Vallonnet site (
France) and on its implications for the knowledge of the first dispersals of members of the genus
Homo during the early
Pleistocene (
Calabrian) in this area of
Europe is published by Michel
et al. (2017). • Two skulls of archaic members of the genus
Homo of uncertain phylogenetic placement are described from the
Pleistocene of
China by Li
et al. (2017). • A study on the affinities of the
Pleistocene hominin cranium from Dali in
Shaanxi Province, China is published by Athreya & Wu (2017). • A description of a hominin skull recovered from the Aroeira cave in
Portugal, dated as approximately 400,000 years old, and a study on its implications for the diversity of the Middle
Pleistocene European hominins is published by Daura
et al. (2017). • A 130,000-year-old rocks interpreted as hammerstones and stone anvils, associated with remains of a
mastodon (
Mammut americanum) showing signs of breakage, are described from the
Cerutti Mastodon site in
California by Holen
et al. (2017), who interpret the finding as indicating that an unidentified species of
Homo reached North America during the early late
Pleistocene; the study is subsequently criticized by Haynes (2017), Braje
et al. (2017), Ferraro
et al. (2018), Ferrell (2019) and Sutton, Parkinson & Rosen (2019). • Traces of ancient mammalian DNA, including
Neanderthal and
Denisovan DNA, are identified in
Pleistocene cave sediments, including those lacking skeletal remains, by Slon
et al. (2017). • A study on the evolutionary history of Neanderthals and Denisovans based on genetic data is published by Rogers, Bohlender & Huff (2017). • Slon
et al. (2017) report the retrieval of DNA from a
molar of a Denisovan, considered by the authors to be one of the oldest hominin remains discovered at
Denisova Cave. • A study on the age of Neanderthal remains recovered from
Vindija Cave (
Croatia) is published by Devièse
et al. (2017). • Prüfer
et al. (2017) sequence the genome of a Neanderthal woman known from remains found in Vindija Cave. • Complete
mtDNA is reported from a Neanderthal
femur from the
Hohlenstein-Stadel cave (
Germany) by Posth
et al. (2017), who evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of the timing of genetic
introgression event from African hominins into Neanderthal populations. • A study on the growth patterns of Neanderthals based on a partial skeleton of a Neanderthal child from the
El Sidrón site (
Spain) is published by Rosas
et al. (2017). • A study on the genetic contribution of Neanderthals to
phenotypic variation in modern humans is published by Dannemann & Kelso (2017). • A reconstruction of the internal
nasal cavity of a Neanderthal and a study comparing the breathing cycle in Neanderthals and modern humans is published by de Azevedo
et al. (2017). • A study on the hunting strategies of the Neanderthals based on data from the deer and horse remains from the Abric Romaní site (
Catalonia,
Spain) is published by Marín
et al. (2017). • The first genetic analysis of
dental calculus from five Neanderthal individuals from
El Sidrón cave in
Spain,
Spy Cave in
Belgium and Breuil Grotta in
Italy is published by Weyrich
et al. (2017), who also evaluate the implications of their findings for inferring Neanderthal diet, behaviour, and disease; the authors' interpretation of their results is subsequently criticized by Charlier, Gaultier & Héry-Arnaud (2019). • Fossils of early
humans (
Homo sapiens) are described from the
Middle Stone Age site of
Jebel Irhoud (
Morocco) by Hublin
et al. (2017) and their age is estimated by Richter
et al. (2017). • Teeth of modern humans recovered from the Lida Ajer cave in
Sumatra (
Indonesia) are dated as between 73,000 and 63,000 years old by Westaway
et al. (2017). • Artifacts recovered at
Madjedbebe, a rock shelter in northern
Australia, indicating that humans colonized Australia at least 65,000 years ago, are reported by Clarkson
et al. (2017); their conclusions about the age of these artifacts are subsequently questioned by
Allen (2017) and
O'Connell et al. (2018). • A study on the diet of the oldest anatomically modern humans from southeast Europe, based on isotopic data from human bones from the
Pleistocene of
Crimea, is published by Drucker
et al. (2017).
New taxa Xenarthrans Afrotherians Bats Odd-toed ungulates Even-toed ungulates Cetaceans Carnivorans Lagomorphs Rodents Primates Other eutherians ==Other mammals==