Ancient Ape Fossil Unearthed in Spain

A 13-million-year-old fossilized ape unearthed in the Spanish village of Els Hostalets de Pierola is thought to be the last common ancestor to humans and great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans). The fossil ape represents a new genus and species and has been given the scientific name Pierolapithecus catalaunicus.

The skeleton, which was recovered by a team of palaeontologists lead by Salvador Moya-Sola of the Miquel Crusafont Institute of Palaeontology, Barcelona, is among the most complete ape skeletons available from is time period.

Current fossil records suggest that great apes diverged from lesser apes (which include gibbons and siamang) at some point during the period of 11 and 16 million years ago. If estimates are correct, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus was present during that period and can therefore lend unique insights into the divergence of the great apes from the lesser apes.

Find out more:

• Moyà-Solà S et. al. 2004. Pierolapithecus catalaunicus, a New Middle Miocene Great Ape from Spain. Science 306(5700): 1339-1344.
• Ancient Ape Discovered: Last Ape-Human Ancestor (National Geographic)
• Ancient Ape Gives Clue to Family Origins (Nature)
• 'Original' Great Ape Discovered (BBC News)