which superseded the matrix of Finarelli and Clyde (2004). We excluded this matrix in light of the critique by Fuss et al. (2018), which recommended instead a version of the matrix eventually used by Gilbert et al. (2020). After considering all of these, we selected four character matrices for further analysis. All matrices were recoded so that character state 0 only refers to the absence of a character. Martin et al. (2021) compiled 109 characters scored for fifteen hominins and six outgroup taxa. The matrix is 83.5% complete, and 67% of the taxa have more than 90% of their characters scored. The characters were modified from a matrix published by Mongle et al. (2019), which in turn is derived from a matrix by Strait and Grine (2004). Martin et al. (2021) focus on a newly discovered Paranthropus cranium from Drimolen, South Africa, and their character matrix allows for a fresh test of the putative discontinuity surrounding Paranthropus. The second matrix from Pugh (2022) contains 358 characters scored for 34 hominids, two hylobatids, and five outgroup taxa. Pugh’s (2022) character matrix includes descriptions of 274 characters, of which 95 are continuous and quantified characters and 179 are qualitative characters. The 179 qualitative characters are scored separately for males and females, thus yielding 358 separate qualitative characters. Pugh (2022) derived her characters from previously published matrices noted above, along with 48 original qualitative characters developed for her study (26.8% of her character sample). The matrix is 48.5% complete, with taxic relevance ranging from 4.5% for Graecopithecus freybergi to 99.4% for gorilla. The median taxic relevance is only 43%, and only 39% of taxa have more than half of their characters scored. The third matrix from Gilbert et al. (2020) contains 271 characters scored for 48 taxa. The taxon sample includes 28 hominoids, 4 cercopithecoids, and 9 outgroup taxa. The matrix is 53.2% complete, with a median taxic relevance of 46.5%. Only 22 taxa (45.8%) have more than half their characters scored. Gilbert et al. (2020) took their characters from previously published matrices noted above along with three original characters. We note that Gilbert et al.’s analysis of the putative hylobatid Kapi was challenged by Ji et al. (2022), but we elected to exclude their character matrix from our analysis because it is considerably smaller (15 taxa, 160 characters) than Gilbert et al.’s (2020). Thus, Gilbert et al.’s (2020) matrix represents a more holistic sample, although we acknowledge that the character sample of Ji et al. (2022) excluded Kapi from the hylobatid clade. Future baraminology studies will surely want to look more closely at the fossil hylobatids. The fourth matrix was compiled by Rasmussen et al. (2019) and contains 196 craniodental and postcranial characters covering eighteen hominoids, eight cercopithecoids, and ten additional outgroup taxa. The matrix is 62.7% complete, with taxic relevance ranging from 4.6% for the Oligocene cercopithecoid Nsungwepithecus gunnelli to 100% for the extant taxa. The median taxic relevance is 60.8%, and 61% of the taxa have more than half of their characters scored. This matrix is an update (with additional taxa) of a matrix previously published by Rossie et al. (2006). Cluster analysis. Following the precedents of Wood (2021) and Sinclair and Wood (2021), we performed distance correlation analyses using both simple matching (baraminic) and Jaccard distances with Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. Following the recommendation of Reeves (2021a, 2021b), we performed cluster analyses using medoid partition and fuzzy analysis with both types of distances. For all analyses, we used all the characters present in the character set with no filtering for character relevance. All clustering calculations were done using BARCLAY (https://coresci.org/ barclay). Additional analyses were performed in R. RESULTS Interspecific hybridization. Hybridization records for the great apes have not changed substantially since Hartwig-Scherer’s (1998) summary. Hybrids between Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii (Dugoujon et al. 1984) and between the two species of Pan (Vervaecke and Van Elsacker 1992) have been recorded. In their re-analysis of published orangutan genomes, Banes et al. (2022) reported two F1 hybrids of Pon. abelii and Pon. tapanuli, a species that was only recently described (Nater et al. 2017) and hence unknown to Hartwig-Scherer (1998). The two gorilla species are also known to hybridize (Ackermann and Bishop 2010). Thus, each individual great ape constitutes a monobaramin. Intergeneric hybrids among the great apes are not known. Outside of zoos, Pongo and the African apes have no opportunity to hybridize, and no such hybrids have been reported in captivity. Rumors of a chimpanzee/gorilla hybrid have persisted for years (Shea 1984), but no confirmed case of hybridization has been recorded. Among the lesser apes, Hartwig-Scherer merely noted the occurrence of intergeneric hybrids as justification for classifying the Hylobatidae as a basic type (monobaramin). We located fourteen records of hylobatid hybrids, including three Hylobates/Nomascus hybrids (Arnold and Meyer 2006; Hirai et al. 2007; Baicharoen et al. 2010), two Hylobates/Symphalangus hybrids (Myers and Shafer 1979; Pellicciari et al. 1988), and one Hylobates/Hoolock hybrid (Chiarelli 1973). Thus, all four genera are connected through genus Hylobates. In discussing ancillary criteria for identifying basic types (monobaramins), Scherer (1994, p. 475) recommended, Determine the overall range of [genetic] variance which is indicated by those members of the group which are connected through hybridization. Then, check whether other species which are not involved in hybridization, would fall within the range of that variance. To implement this recommendation, we compared whole mitochondrial genome sequences from eleven hylobatid species, constituting all mitochondrial genomes available in GenBank from that family. For each pairwise comparison, we recorded the uncorrected percent difference and transition/transversion ratio (Table 3). Our results reveal a complex arrangement of relationships. Nomascus leucogenys and Hy. lar are the two hybridizing species with the greatest difference between their mitochondrial DNA sequences, 10.3%. Nomascus leucogenys and N. siki are the most similar species that hybridize, with a mitochondrial DNA difference of only 0.9%. Of the 55 species pairs represented in the mitochondrial DNA comparison, twelve are pairs with recorded interspecific hybridization. Seven species have mitochondrial DNA that is more similar to BRUMMEL AND WOOD Preliminary Evaluation of Ape Baramins 2023 ICC 148
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