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Species Concepts and Species Recognition in Eocene Primates

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Species, Species Concepts and Primate Evolution

Part of the book series: Advances in Primatology ((AIPR))

Abstract

The problem of how to apply the species concept to fossils is not new (see, e.g., Trueman, 1924; Simpson, 1943, 1951; Sylvester-Bradley, 1956; Imbrie, 1957), nor has it been resolved. Despite heated debate and voluminous literature on the subject, a consensus seems more elusive today than several decades ago. Part of the reason for this discord may be the varied approaches, philosophies, and perspectives—some of which have led to new views on the nature of species—of participants in the debate, as well as different systematic objectives and questions being asked. Theoreticians, historians, and philosophers of science have joined paleontologists and neontologists in contributing to the debate. As will be seen, theoretical arguments often conflict with more operational approaches offered by paleontologists working with real specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA

    Kenneth D. Rose

  2. Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, 80225, USA

    Thomas M. Bown

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  1. Kenneth D. Rose
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  1. Institute of Human Origins, Berkeley, California, USA

    William H. Kimbel

  2. State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    Lawrence B. Martin

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Rose, K.D., Bown, T.M. (1993). Species Concepts and Species Recognition in Eocene Primates. In: Kimbel, W.H., Martin, L.B. (eds) Species, Species Concepts and Primate Evolution. Advances in Primatology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3745-2_12

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