仰鼻猴属(RHINOPITHECUS)的系统分类地位

自Milne-Edwards(1868-1974)将四川宝兴标本另立新属--仰鼻猴属(Rhinopithecus,1872=Semnopithecus,1870)以来,其属名一直被分类学家、形态学家和灵长类学家等所承认和采用(Elliot,1913; Hill,1936; Allen,1938;Simpson、1945;Buettner-Janusch,1963;Napier等,1967,等)。

OBSERVATIONS ON THE POSITION OF GENUS RHINOPITHECUS IN PHYLOGENY

The viewpoint to consider the genus Rhinopithecus, as a subgenus of Pygathrix in primate phylogeny was first proposed by Groves in 1970 and has been accepted by many authors, such as Delson (1975), Swindler (1976), Szalay and Delson (1979) and Corbet et al. (1980), etc.This paper deals with the comparisons of Rhinopithecus with Pygathrix and with other primates in gross anatomy and ecology, especially with Pygathrix, The following results are discussed:( 1 ) We found that the genus Rhinopithecus is more distinct from Pygathrix in dentition, sexual dimorphism, social structure and behaviour, and that they later can be placed in between Presbytis and Rhinopithecus despite a lack of more anatomical references for the comparison;(2 ) As for its relationship to Nasalis and Simias or Pygathrix, we agree with Groves (1970) and Grzimek (1975), who considered Rhinopithecus as a sister genus or subgenus of Nasalis or Pygathrix,possibly an incomplete one considering the similarity of body size, limb proportion, nasal structure and skull, which all show a case of convergent evolution. Having been isolated long ago, Nasalis and Simias may be more premitive than Rhinopithecus, for the skull of Mesopithecus is similar to that of either Nasalis or Rhinopithecus (see Szalay et al., 1979).( 3 ) Through the morphological comparison of Rhinopithecus with Presbytis and homonids, we have recognized that Rhinopithecus should hold an intermediate position between Presbytis and Hylobates, and they are possibly the most advanced monkeys among Old World Monkeys.(4 ) The similar morphological characters between Rhinopithecus and homonids are considered as the peculiarity of the genus Rhinopithecus.(5 ) As mentioned above, it seems that the parentage of Colobidae illustrated by Delson (1975) should be slightly revised (see Fig. 1).