Parapithecus
Extinct genus of primates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Parapithecus is an extinct genus of primate that lived during the Late Eocene-Earliest Oligocene in what is now Egypt. Its members are considered to be basal anthropoids and the genus is closely related to Apidium. There are two known species. They lived about 40 to 33 million years ago.[1]
| Parapithecus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mandible of P. grangeri | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Family: | †Parapithecidae |
| Genus: | †Parapithecus Schlosser, 1910 |
| Species | |
| |
Description
Parapithecus had an unusual dentition, which contained no adult lower incisors.[2] The upper dentition likely had four incisors.[3] This means the adult dental formula can be expressed as: Incisors: 2/0; Canines: 1/1; Premolars: 3/3; Molars: 3/3.
Palaeobiology
Palaeoecology
The dental microwear of Parapithecus was most similar to that of modern frugivorous primates, suggesting that Parapithecus fed mainly on fruits.[4]
