Propliopithecus

Propliopithecus is an extinct genus of primate.

Propliopithecus
Temporal range:
Propliopithecus haeckeli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: †Propliopithecoidea
Family: †Propliopithecidae
Genus: †Propliopithecus
Schlosser, 1910
Type species
†Propliopithecus haeckeli
Schlosser 1911
Species
  • †Propliopithecus ankeli Simons et al. 1987
  • †Propliopithecus chirobates Simons 1965
  • †Propliopithecus haeckeli Schlosser 1911
Synonyms[1]
  • †Aeolopithecus Simons 1965
  • †Moeripithecus Schlosser 1910

The 40 cm (1 ft 4 in) long creature resembled today's gibbons. Its eyes faced forwards, giving it stereoscopical vision. Propliopithecus was most likely an omnivore. It is possible that Propliopithecus is the same creature as Aegyptopithecus. If that would be the case the name Propliopithecus would take precedence over Aegyptopithecus according to ICZN rules, because it was coined earlier.[2]

Human-like dental features

Propliopithecus had small canine teeth, lacked spaces to fit the canine teeth of the other jaw into, and had molars very similar to those of Australopithecus. These features set Propliopithecus apart from Aegyptopithecus, which had big canine teeth along with other more normal simian dental features.[3][4]

References
  1. "†Propliopithecus Schlosser 1911 (monkey)" (html). FossilWorks. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  2. Palmer, Douglas (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric animals. London: Marshall Editions Developments Ltd. ISBN 978-3-8290-6747-8.
  3. Yves Coppens: Ape, Africa and Man
  4. Bjorn Kurten: The age of mammals


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