A new genus of large primate from the Late Oligocene of Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya

1995/06/01 by M.G. Leakey, M. G. Leakey, P.S. Ungar +3 · 2 citations
Psychology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Primate Behavior and Ecology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

paper · doi:10.1006/jhev.1995.1040

Abstract

The species Proconsul (Xenopithecus) hamiltoni was based on two weathered molars in a maxillary fragment from the Erageleit beds, Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya. New fossils from Lothidok show a unique suite of features indicating generic distinction of this taxon from other known large early catarrhines. A new generic diagnosis is given. The new genus, although still poorly known, may be the first Oligocene hominoid from East Africa. It retains many primitive features, but the few derived ones hint that it may be related to the Afropithecus group.

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