Paradolichopithecus
| Paradolichopithecus Temporal range: Mid Pliocene-Early Pleistocene
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| Genus: | †Paradolichopithecus
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| Type species | |
| †Paradolichopithecus arvernensis Depéret, 1929
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†P. gansuensis | |
Paradolichopithecus is an extinct genus of monkey once found throughout Eurasia. The type species, P. arvernensis, was a very large monkey, comparable in size to a mandrill. The genus was most closely related to macaques, sharing a very similar cranial morphology.[1]
Paradolichopithecus was a terrestrial monkey generally believed to have developed a large body size as a response to predator pressure. Despite its close relation to macaques, it also shared a number of postcranial features with baboons. Its ankle joints also show a remarkable similarity with that of the homonid Australopithecus, and it has led to the idea that Paradolichopithecus may frequently have moved in a bipedal stance.[2]
References
- ^ Nishimura, TD.;(2010). Nasal anatomy of Paradolichopithecus gansuensis (early Pleistocene, Longdan, China) with comments on phyletic relationships among the species of this genus
- ^ Van Der Greer, A. A. E.; (2002) The postcranial elements of Paradolichopithecus arvernensis (Primates, Cercopithecidae, Papionini) from Lesvos, Greece