Primates 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). • Welker
et al. (2020) present tooth enamel
proteomes of
Homo antecessor from
Atapuerca (
Spain) and
Homo erectus from
Dmanisi (
Georgia), and evaluate the implications of their findings for the knowledge of the phylogenetic placement of
H. antecessor. • A study on tooth enamel development in hominins from the paleontological sites of the Atapuerca complex, aiming to determine whether the Atapuerca hominins shared a suite or pattern of dental developmental characteristics with
Homo sapiens, is published by Modesto-Mata
et al. (2020). • A study on the morphology of hominin bones from the Sima de los Huesos site (Atapuerca, Spain) is published by Bartsiokas &
Arsuaga (2020), who interpret their findings as likely evidence of
hibernation in the Atapuerca hominins. • A study on the age of the
Kabwe 1 skull from
Broken Hill (
Zambia), and on its implications for the knowledge of human evolution, is published by Grün
et al. (2020). • Evidence of interbreeding between common ancestors of Neanderthals and
Denisovans with a different hominin population that separated from other humans about 2 million years ago is presented by
Rogers, Harris & Achenbach (2020). • Petr
et al. (2020) sequence
Y chromosomes from Neanderthals and Denisovans, and evaluate the implications of their findings for the knowledge of the evolutionary history of Neanderthals and Denisovans. • Zhang
et al. (2020) report the discovery of Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from sediments of the
Baishiya Karst Cave deposited ~100 thousand, ~60 thousand and possibly as recently as ~45 thousand years ago, and interpret their findings as evidence of long-term occupation of this cave by Denisovans. • A study on the early life of Neanderthals, based on data from three Neanderthal individuals from northeastern
Italy, is published by Nava
et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that the modern human nursing strategy was present among these Neanderthals. • A study on the exploitation of bivalves by Neanderthals from the Moscerini cave site (
Italy) is published by Villa
et al. (2020), who report evidence indicating that Neanderthals collected aquatic resources by skin diving. • Zilhão
et al. (2020) present evidence from the Figueira Brava site on the Atlantic coast of
Portugal indicating that
Middle Paleolithic Neanderthals from this site exploited marine resources at a scale on par with the modern human–associated
Middle Stone Age of southern Africa. • A study on an assemblage of Neanderthal remains and Middle Paleolithic artifacts from the Chagyrskaya Cave (
Russia) is published by Kolobova
et al. (2020), who compare this assemblage with other
Altai sites, and interpret their findings as evidence of at least two Neanderthal incursions into southern
Siberia. • A high-quality genome of a Neanderthal from the Chagyrskaya Cave is sequenced by Mafessoni
et al. (2020), who interpret the data from the genes expressed in the
striatum of the brain as indicating that the striatum may have evolved unique functions in Neanderthals. • Evidence of use of fibre technology by Neanderthals is reported from the Abri du Maras site (
France) by Hardy
et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of cognitive abilities of Neanderthals. • García-Martínez
et al. (2020) reconstruct the ribcages of perinatal and infant Neanderthal individuals, and report evidence indicating that most of the skeletal differences between the Neanderthal and modern human thorax were already largely established at birth. • Two new reconstructions of the
Kebara 2 pelvis are presented by Adegboyega
et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this specimen for the knowledge of the Neanderthal pelvic morphology. • Evidence of stable climatic and environmental conditions in
Apulia (
Italy) during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition, when Neanderthals and modern humans coexisted, is presented by Columbu
et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as indicating that climate did not play a key role in the disappearance of Neanderthals in this area. • A study on the biological affinities of the
Olduvai Hominid 1 is published by Willman
et al. (2020), who also report evidence from
tooth wear indicating that this individual wore three facial piercings. • A study on environmental dynamics associated with the replacement of the Acheulean by early
Middle Stone Age, aiming to determine how shifts in landscape-scale ecological resources might have influenced hominin adaptation during this interval on the basis of data from the
Olorgesailie basin, is published by
Potts et al. (2020). • A study on an assemblage more than 400 Late Pleistocene human footprints from Engare Sero (
Tanzania), and on their implications for the knowledge of the body sizes, locomotor behaviors and composition of the group of humans who generated these tracks, is published by Hatala
et al. (2020), who interpret these tracks as likely evidence of cooperative and sexually divided foraging behaviors in Late Pleistocene humans. •
Wadley et al. (2020) report the discovery of grass bedding likely used to create comfortable areas for sleeping and working by people who lived in
Border Cave (South Africa) at least 200,000 years ago. • A study on the evolution of early symbolic behavior in
Homo sapiens, based on data from the engraved ochre and ostrich eggshell fragments from the
South African
Blombos Cave and
Diepkloof Rock Shelter dating up to about 100,000 years ago, is published by Tylén
et al. (2020). •
Hublin et al. (2020) report the discovery and study the age of human remains found in association with Initial
Upper Paleolithic artefacts from the
Bacho Kiro cave (
Bulgaria), and argue that this assemblage represents the earliest arrival of Upper Paleolithic
Homo sapiens in Europe reported so far; a study on the
14C chronology of this site is published by Fewlass
et al. (2020). • Newborns from a double grave from the
Gravettian site Krems-Wachtberg (
Austria) are identified as the earliest known case of
monozygotic twins by
Teschler-Nicola et al. (2020). • A study on the genome of a ~34,000-year-old hominin skull cap discovered in the Salkhit Valley in northeastern
Mongolia is published by Massilani
et al. (2020), who present evidence indicating that this individual was a woman from a modern human population carrying genomic segments of Denisovan ancestry derived from the same Denisovan admixture event that contributed to present-day mainland Asians. • Evidence indicating that the
Paleolithic colonization of the
Ryukyu Islands was a result of active and continued exploration, backed up by technological advancement, is presented by Kaifu
et al. (2020). • A study aiming to determine the varying reliance of early human colonisers of
Wallacea on tropical forest and terrestrial versus marine resources, as indicated by stable carbon and oxygen isotope data from human and faunal tooth enamel from six Late Pleistocene/Holocene archaeological sequences on
Timor and
Alor Island, is published by Roberts
et al. (2020). • Bordes
et al. (2020) identify bone micro-residues on two cobbles from the
Cerutti Mastodon site (
California, United States), and interpret this finding as evidence supporting human agency on bone and stone artefacts from this site. • Evidence from fecal
biomarkers indicating that
pre-Clovis coprolites from the
Paisley Caves complex (
Oregon,
United States) are human is presented by
Shillito et al. (2020). • A study on the timing of the
peopling of the Americas, based on chronometric data from 42 North American and
Beringian archaeological sites, is published by Becerra-Valdivia &
Higham (2020). • Evidence of human presence in the Americas during the
Last Glacial Maximum is reported from the Chiquihuite Cave (
Zacatecas,
Mexico) by Ardelean
et al. (2020), who interpret their findings as pushing back dates for human dispersal to the region possibly as early as 33,000–31,000 years ago. • A study on the age and duration of the Clovis complex is published by
Waters, Stafford & Carlson (2020). • Two Early Holocene hunter-gatherer burials, including a burial of a young adult woman associated with a hunting toolkit of stone projectile points and animal processing tools, are reported from the
Wilamaya Patjxa site (
Peru) by Haas
et al. (2020), who also review other Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene burials throughout the Americas, and interpret their findings as consistent with nongendered labor practices in which early hunter-gatherer women were big-game hunters.
Rodents Rodentian research • Description of new fossil material of
Cephalomys arcidens from the
Deseadan locality of Cabeza Blanca (
Argentina), and a study on the species belonging to the genus
Cephalomys and on the phylogenetic relationships of
cephalomyids, is published by Busker, Dozo & Soto (2020). • A study on brain anatomy and size in
Neoepiblema acreensis is published by Ferreira
et al. (2020). • A study on the anatomy of the auditory region of the skull of
Prospaniomys priscus is published by Arnaudo, Arnal & Ekdale (2020). • A study on the locomotor agility of fossil ischyromyid, sciurid and aplodontid rodents, as inferred from the anatomy of the semicircular canals in their inner ear, is published by Bhagat, Bertrand & Silcox (2020). • A study on a specimen of
Ischyromys douglassi from the
White River Formation of West Canyon Creek (
Wyoming,
United States), representing the oldest and most complete articulated skeleton yet known of
Ischyromys, is published by Rankin, Emry & Asher (2020), who report that this specimen exhibits anatomical
sciuromorphy, and evaluate its implications for the knowledge of jaw musculature evolution in rodents. • A study on the locomotor behavior of
Paramys delicatus is published by Prufrock, Ruff & Rose (2020), who also attempt to determine the body mass of
P. delicatus and other early North American paramyines. • A study on the morphology of the skull of the
endemic dormouse Leithia melitensis from the Pleistocene of
Sicily is published by Hennekam
et al. (2020), who present a composite digital model of the skull of this rodent. • A study on the evolution of
island gigantism in fossil dormice from
Sicily and the
Balearic Islands is published by Hennekam
et al. (2020). • A study on the diet of Pliocene beavers belonging to the genus
Dipoides from the High Arctic Beaver Pond fossil locality (
Ellesmere Island,
Canada), aiming to determine whether early woodcutting behaviour of beavers was driven by nutritional needs, is published by Plint
et al. (2020). • Partial mitochondrial genome of the extinct beaver
Castoroides is reported by Xenikoudakis
et al. (2020), who evaluate the implications of this finding for the knowledge of the origin of aquatic behavior of beavers. • A study on the anatomy of the skeleton of
Copemys loxodon is published by Ronez, Martin & Pardiñas (2020). • A study on the anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of
Megaoryzomys curioi is published by Ronez
et al. (2020). • A study aiming to determine whether insularity might have affected bone metabolism in Late Quaternary murine rodents from
Timor is published by Miszkiewicz
et al. (2020).
Other euarchontoglires Miscellaneous euarchontoglires research • Virtual
endocast of the
stem lagomorph Megalagus turgidus is reconstructed by López-Torres
et al. (2020). • Description of new fossil material of
Arnebolagus leporinus from the Eocene Naran Bulak Formation (
Mongolia) and a study on the phylogenetic relationships of this taxon is published by Lopatin & Averianov (2020), who name new clades
Eulagomorpha and
Epilagomorpha. • A study on the body mass,
eco-evolutionary dynamics and adaptations to insular conditions in fossil pikas
Prolagus apricenicus and
Prolagus imperialis is published by Moncunill-Solé (2020). • A study on the morphology of teeth and likely dietary ecology of the fossil
treeshrews
Prodendrogale yunnanica and
Ptilocercus kylin is published by Selig
et al. (2020). • A study on the anatomy of the skull of
Microsyops annectens is published by Silcox, Gunnell & Bloch (2020). ==Xenarthrans==