Dolichopithecus
| Dolichopithecus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Skull ofDolichopithecus ruscinensis | |
Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | Cercopithecidae |
| Subfamily: | Colobinae |
| Genus: | †Dolichopithecus Dépéret, 1889 |
| Type species | |
| †Dolichopithecus ruscinensis Dépéret, 1889
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| Species | |
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Dolichopithecusis an extinct genus ofOld World monkeythat lived in Europe during theLate MioceneandPliocene.[1]
Taxonomy[edit]
The type speciesDolichopithecus ruscinensiswas first described in 1889 byCharles Depéret,based on fossil remains from theRoussillonarea inFrancedating back to the Middle Pliocene. Numerous fossils ofD. ruscinensishave been found in European Pliocene deposits from France,Spain,Bulgaria,Hungary,Romania,andUkraine.A second species,D. balcanicus,has been described from remains found in theBalkans.[2]
Some extinct colobine species from Asia have formerly been included inDolichopithecus;D. leptopostorbitalisofJapan,now placed inKanagawapithecus,[3]andD. eohanumanfrom northeast Asia, now inParapresbytis.[4]Paradolichopithecus arvernensiswas also originally included under this genus, but is more related tomacaquesrather than colobines.
Dolichopithecusis believed to be closely related toMesopithecusand the two form an early grouping of Eurasian colobines. The teeth are very similar, althoughDolichopithecushas a larger size, longer skull and more terrestrial adaptations thanMesopithecus.[5]
Description[edit]
Dolichopithecuswas a rather large monkey with estimated weights of 20–30 kg (44–66 lb) for males and 12–18 kg (26–40 lb) for females; as in most monkeys the male would have been significantly larger than the female.[6]
Dolichopithecushad a rather long skull with very large canines in the male, and many postcranial elements match those of ground-dwelling monkeys such as baboons more than they do to it close colobine relatives.[6]This includes short,stout phalanges and joint articulations similar to those of baboons.[5]The environment it would have lived in was forested, so it can be assumed thatDolichopithecuswould have roamed the forest floors.[1]
References[edit]
- ^abDavies, Glyn E. (1994).Colobine Monkeys: Their Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution.Cambridge University Press. p. 23.ISBN9780521331531.
- ^Spassov, N.; Geraads, D. (2007)."Dolichopithecus balcanicus sp. nov., a new Colobinae (Primates, Cercopithecidae) from the early Pliocene of southeastern Europe, with a discussion on the taxonomy of the genus"(PDF).Journal of Human Evolution.52(4): 434–442.Bibcode:2007JHumE..52..434S.doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.11.002.PMID17198722.
- ^Nishimura, T.D. (2012). "Reassessment of Dolichopithecus (Kanagawapithecus) leptopostorbitalis, a colobine monkey from the Late Pliocene of Japan".Journal of Human Evolution.62(4): 548–561.Bibcode:2012JHumE..62..548N.doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2012.02.006.PMID22446066.
- ^Naoko, E. (2007)."Distal humerus and ulna of Parapresbytis (Colobinae) from the Pliocene of Russia and Mongolia: phylogenetic and ecological implications based on elbow morphology".Anthropological Science.115(2): 107–117.doi:10.1537/ase.061008.
- ^abFleagle, John G. (2013).Primate Adaptation and Evolution.Elsevier Science. p. 356.ISBN9781483288505.
- ^abBrooks, Alison S. (2004).Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory: Second Edition.Taylor & Francis. p. 188.ISBN9781135582289.
