Rangwapithecus

Rangwapithecus
Jaw of Rangwapithecus gordoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Rangwapithecus

Rangwapithecus is an extinct genus of ape from the Early Miocene of Kenya. Late Miocene phalanges from Hungary have also been assigned to this genus, but were later reclassified as Dryopithecus.[1]

Description

Rangwapithecus weighted approximately 15 kg (33 lb) and the size and shape of ape's teeth indicate that it was folivore.[2] An ape from the earliest Miocene that was[3] arboreal and therefore adapted to forest-dwelling, associated particularly with Mfangano Island, living in rainforest (Andrews,Kelley 2007).[4] although previously, lived within habitat of woodland-bushland.[5]

Taxonomy

Sympatric with Prosonsul, both classified within Proconsulidae[6] perhaps is same as classification Proconsul gordoni and Proconsul vancouveringi.[7] Is similar to another species found in Africa.[8]

Rangwapithecus gordoni and P. africanus are similarly sized although differing morphologically, and both restricted to Koru and Songhur.[9]

Notes

References

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