Nonhuman primate hybridization and the taxonomic status of Neanderthals

The present study examines the taxonomic status of Middle Paleolithic Neand erthals by comparing their observed minimum genetic divergence from Upper P aleolithic modern humans in Europe with that observed between macaque speci es from Sulawesi that are known to hybridize and fully intergrade in the wi ld. The genetic divergence, and differentiation between Neanderthals and Up per Paleolithic modern humans, as indicated by pairwise minimum genetic dis tances and F,, values calculated from the estimated minimum genetic relatio nship (R) matrix derived from craniometric data, are significantly greater than those observed both between hybridizing and noninterbreeding Sulawesi macaque species, suggesting that mate recognition and the possibility of ge ne flow between Neanderthals and Upper Paleolithic modern humans might have been greatly reduced. These results support a species-level taxonomic dist inction for the Neanderthals as suggested by proponents of the replacement model. Furthermore, assumptions regarding the monophyletic origin of modern humans from outside Europe are likely valid. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.