In Depth Although Dryopithecus is known to have had a broad geographic distribution, it is particularly well known from European countries such as France, Spain and Hungary. Dryopithecus is often associated with the orangutan-like Sivapithecus, however study of Dryopithecus fossils indicate that it was actually very different in life. The main difference between these two … Read more
In Depth Oreopithecus is a paradox as while it is amongst the best known of fossil apes, there is still much confusion over how this primate lived and was related to other primates. This confusion is down to how Oreopithecus displays features that both suggest an arboreal life where it swung through the tree canopy, … Read more
In Depth Proconsul is a primate that seems to be stuck in transition between monkeys and apes. So far no tail has ever been found and the hands are more dexterous than monkeys, together suggesting a primitive ape lineage. The metacarpals however are curved and the postures of reconstructed individuals are more like those of … Read more
In Depth Like with Pliopithecus, the genus after which it was named, Propliopithecus was a gibbon-like ape that lived in Northeast Africa during the early Oligocene (back in this time Egypt had an extensive covering of vegetation unlike the arid desert conditions that we know today). Propliopithecus would have lived in the tree canopy where … Read more
In Depth Samburupithecus is known to have low and broad cheek bones that housed a large maxillary sinus. The alveolar process (the bone that holds the teeth) is straight and houses teeth that are elongated back to front, similar to some great apes. The teeth have a thick coating of enamel and have cusps that … Read more
In Depth Afropithecus is one of the better known primates of Miocene era Africa and the current fossils for this primate suggest that it was similar to the even more numerous Proconsul. However despite a body similarity to Proconsul, Afropithecus is thought to have had a head more like Aegyptopithecus (which may actually be Propliopithecus) … Read more