Metric data for the Maludong femur (MLDG 1678).

<p>¹Calculated by dividing the relevant area by reconstructed body mass, after Ref [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143332#pone.0143332.ref034" target="_blank">34</a>].</p><p>Metric data for the Maludong femur (MLDG 1678).</p

Comparison of systematically relevant traits in MLDG 1678¹.

<p>¹Abbreviations: LPHO = Lower Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; MPHO = Middle Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; NEAN = Neanderthals; MPMH = Middle Pleistocene Modern Humans; EULU = Early Upper-Late Upper Palaeolithic humans. ST = subtrochanteric region; MS = mid-shaft region; AP = anteroposterior diameter; ML = mediolateral diameter.</p><p>Sample compositions, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143332#pone.0143332.s004" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>.</p><p>Comparison of systematically relevant traits in MLDG 1678<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143332#t002fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Object plot from principal component analysis of 10 continuous variables: PC1 (52.85%) versus PC2 (28.92%) (AMH femora labeled in black; archaic hominins in blue; minimal spanning tree shown).

<p>Object plot from principal component analysis of 10 continuous variables: PC1 (52.85%) versus PC2 (28.92%) (AMH femora labeled in black; archaic hominins in blue; minimal spanning tree shown).</p

Neighbor-joining tree from an analysis of 15 variables (5 discrete and 10 continuous) using comparative sample medians as OTUs.

<p>(Bootstrap scores are from 100,000 replicates; Abbreviations: LPHO = Lower Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; MPHO = Middle Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; NEAN = Neanderthals; MPMH = Middle Pleistocene Modern Humans; EULU = Early Upper-Late Upper Palaeolithic humans [see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143332#pone.0143332.s004" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>]).</p

A Hominin Femur with Archaic Affinities from the Late Pleistocene of Southwest China - Fig 3

<p>Scatterplots comparing sample medians for mid-shaft (MS) variables, size-adjusted variables and mid-shaft/subtrochanteric area index: (A) Anteroposterior (AP) diameter (mm). (B) Mediolateral (ML) diameter (mm). (C) Total area (TA: mm²). (D) Cortical area (CA: mm²). (E) %-Cortical area (%-CA). (F) Size-adjusted total area. (G) Size-adjusted cortical area. (H) Pilastric index (%). (I) Mid-shaft/subtrochanteric (MS/ST) area index (%). (Error bars = 95% confidence interval of median [dark] and 1.5 x interquartile range [light]; Abbreviations: LPHO = Lower Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; MPHO = Middle Pleistocene <i>Homo</i>; NEAN = Neanderthals; MPMH = Middle Pleistocene Modern Humans; EULU = Early Upper-Late Upper Palaeolithic humans [see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0143332#pone.0143332.s004" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>]).</p

Neighbor-joining tree from an analysis of 10 continuous variables (AMH femora labeled in black; archaic hominins in blue; bootstrap scores are from 100,000 replicates with only those ≥60% shown).

<p>Neighbor-joining tree from an analysis of 10 continuous variables (AMH femora labeled in black; archaic hominins in blue; bootstrap scores are from 100,000 replicates with only those ≥60% shown).</p

A new otter of giant size, <i>Siamogale melilutra</i> sp. nov. (Lutrinae: Mustelidae: Carnivora), from the latest Miocene Shuitangba site in north-eastern Yunnan, south-western China, and a total-evidence phylogeny of lutrines

<p>Otters (subfamily Lutrinae) are semi-aquatic predators in the family Mustelidae. Modern otters have a worldwide distribution but their fossil record is poor, often consisting of fragmentary jaws and teeth. Multiple lineages have developed bunodont dentitions with enlargements of molars, usually for cracking molluscs or other hard foods. Some lineages have evolved badger-like teeth and, as a result, were often confused with melines (Old World badger clade). <i>Siamogale thailandica</i> Ginsburg, Invagat, & Tassy, 1983 from the middle Miocene basin of Mae Moh in northern Thailand is one such species, whose fragmentary dental remains have thus far impeded our understanding. A new species of fossil otter, <i>Siamogale melilutra</i> sp. nov., represented by a nearly complete cranium, mandible and partial skeletons of at least three individuals, was recovered from the latest Miocene (∼6.2 Ma) lignite beds of the Shuitangba Site in north-eastern Yunnan Province, south-western China. Computed tomography (CT) restoration of the crushed skull reveals a combination of otter-like and badger-like cranial and dental characteristics. The new species belongs to the Lutrinae because of its possession of a large infraorbital canal and ventral expansion of the mastoid process, among other traits. A distally expanded M1, however, gives a badger-like appearance. In overall morphology the Shuitangba otter is closest to <i>Siamogale thailandica</i>. A previously described jaw (‘<i>Lutra</i>’ <i>aonychoides</i>) from the early Pliocene of the Yushe Basin in north China is also here referred to <i>S. melilutra</i>. No previous attempt has been made to provide a global phylogenetic framework for otters. We present the first combined morphological and molecular (nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs) character matrices of five extant (<i>Pteronura</i>, <i>Lontra</i>, <i>Enhydra</i>, <i>Aonyx</i>, <i>Lutra</i>) and eight extinct genera (<i>Tyrrhenolutra</i>, <i>Paralutra</i>, <i>Paludolutra</i>, <i>Enhydritherium</i>, <i>Siamogale</i>, <i>Vishnuonyx</i>, <i>Sivaonyx</i>, <i>Enhydriodon</i>) to better understand the evolution of bunodont otters. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses consistently recover an eastern Asian clade that includes forms from Shuitangba, Yushe and Mae Moh, all of which are referred to <i>Siamogale</i>.</p> <p><a href="http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C637018-0772-4C78-AA4B-783B71085D9D" target="_blank">http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5C637018-0772-4C78-AA4B-783B71085D9D</a></p