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Morotopithecus

Species of extinct ape from Miocene central Africa

Species of extinct ape from Miocene central Africa

Morotopithecus is a genus of fossil ape discovered in Miocene-age deposits of Moroto, Uganda.

The phylogenetic status of Morotopithecus bishopi is debated to the extent that it challenges established views on the connection between Miocene primates and extant hominids (i.e. great apes). Parsimonious phylogenetic analyses indicate Morotopithecus is more derived than Proconsul, Afropithecus, and Kenyapithecus, but less derived than Oreopithecus, Sivapithecus, and Dryopithecus. Under this arrangement, Morotopithecus would be a sister taxon to extant great apes while Hylobates (gibbons) seem to have branched off before this clade appeared. However, gibbons are believed to have branched off while Morotopithecus is dated to more than .{{cite journal

In a comparison of teeth characteristics of Morotopithecus to Afropithecus the results showed little difference, plus evidence gathered from cranial comparisons also indicate that the two genera may be the same, a conclusion of limited confidence due to the lack of evidence to produce a complete anatomy for both (Patel, Grossman 2005). Meanwhile, Pickford (2002) referred the vertebrae to Ugandapithecus, and considered Morotopithecus synonymous with Afropithecus.{{cite journal|author=M. Pickford

It appears to have lived in wooded grassland, and had a diet dominated by leaves.

References

References

  1. D. L. Gebo, L. MacLatchy, R. Kityo, A. Deino, J. Kingston, D. Pilbeam. (1997). "A hominoid genus from the early Miocene of Uganda". Science.
  2. Filler, Aaron G.. (10 October 2007). "Homeotic Evolution in the Mammalia: Diversification of Therian Axial Seriation and the Morphogenetic Basis of Human Origins". PLOS ONE.
  3. Maclatchy, L.. (2004). "The oldest ape (abstract)". Evolutionary Anthropology.
  4. Biren A. Patel, Ari Grossman. (2006). "Dental metric comparisons of ''Morotopithecus'' and ''Afropithecus'': Implications for the validity of the genus ''Morotopithecus''". Journal of Human Evolution.
  5. "Early Apes Lived on Savannas, Not in Forests".
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