Eocene primates from Myanmar: Historical perspectives on the origin of Anthropoidea

Abstract

The phylogenetic and geographic origins of the primate suborder Anthropoidea have long been major focal points in the study of primate evolution. Field work in Africa and Asia over the past forty years has produced a bewildering array of fossil primates, many having been linked in one way or another with the early origins of anthropoids. Asia recently has become fashionable in some circles as the ultimate geographic source of anthropoids, while Africa remains a viable alternative for others. In this paper we discuss the history of discovery of the Eocene primates of Myanmar and then offer our views on the current status of these Myanmar primates in the ongoing debate over anthropoid origins.