Morotopithecus

Morotopithecus
Morotopithecus bishopi
Temporal range: Miocene[1]
Lumbar vertebra of M. bishopi (A, B) compared to that of a human (C)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Genus: Morotopithecus
Species: M. bishopi
Binomial name
Morotopithecus bishopi
Gebo et al., 1997

Morotopithecus bishopi is a species of fossil ape discovered in Moroto, Uganda.[1]

The phylogenetic status of Morotopithecus bishopi is debated to the extent that it challenges established views on the connection between Miocene primates and extant hominids (i.e. great apes).[2] Parsimonious phylogenetic analyses indicate Morotopithecus is more derived than Proconsul, Afropithecus, and Kenyapithecus, but less derived than Oreopithecus, Sivapithecus, and Dryopithecus. Morotopithecus thus seems to be a sister taxon to extant great apes while Hylobates (gibbons) seem to have branched off before this clade appeared. However, gibbons are believed to have branched off 18 million years ago while Morotopithecus is dated to more than 20.6 million years.

[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Morotopithecus bishopi - Properties - The Taxonomicon
  2. ^ http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0001019
  3. ^ Young, Nathan M; MacLatchy, Laura (2004). "The phylogenetic position of Morotopithecus". Journal of Human Evolution 46: 163–184. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2003.11.002. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~palanth/Nate/Publications_files/young_maclatchy_2004.pdf. 
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