Rangwapithecus Explained

Rangwapithecus is an extinct genus of ape from the Early Miocene of Kenya. Late Miocene phalanges from Hungary have also been assigned to this genus, but were later reclassified as Dryopithecus.

Description

Rangwapithecus weighed approximately 15kg (33lb) and the size and shape of the ape's teeth indicate that it was a folivore. An arboreal ape from the earliest Miocene adapted to life in the rainforest, it is associated particularly with Mfangano Island although the species previously inhabited a woodland-bushland environment.

Taxonomy

Rangwapithecus was sympatric with Proconsul, and may be synonymous with both Proconsul gordoni and Proconsul vancouveringi. It is also similar to another species found in Africa. Rangwapithecus gordoni and P. africanus are similarly sized though they differ morphologically, and both are restricted to Koru and Songhur.

References

• Book: Andrews, Peter . Evolution and Environment in the Hominoidea . Gee . H . Henry Gee . Shaking the tree: readings from Nature in the history of life . University of Chicago Press . May 2000 . 978-0-226-28497-2 .
• Andrews . P . Cronin . JE . The relationships of Sivapithecus and Ramapithecus and the evolution of the orang-utan . Nature . 1982 . 297 . 5867 . 541–6 . 7045678 . 10.1038/297541a0 . 1982Natur.297..541A . 4368755 .
• Andrews . P. . Evans . E. N. . The Environment of Ramapithecus in Africa . Paleobiology . 1979 . 5 . 1 . 22–30 . 2400387 . 10.1017/s0094837300006266 . 1979Pbio....5...22A . 88248574 .
• Andrews . Peter . Kelley . Jay . Middle Miocene Dispersals of Apes . 2007 . Folia Primatologica . 78 . 5–6 . 328–43 . 10.1159/000105148 . 17855786 . 19293586 .
• Begun . David R. . Catarrhine phalanges from the Late Miocene (Vallesian) of Rudabánya, Hungary . Journal of Human Evolution . 1988 . 17 . 4 . 413–37 . 10.1016/0047-2484(88)90030-9 . 1988JHumE..17..413B . 2012-12-22 .
• Book: Cameron, D. W. . Hominid adaptations and extinctions . UNSW Press . 2004 . 9780868407166 .
• Book: Fleagle, JG . Primate adaptation and evolution . Academic Press . 1999 . 978-0-12-260341-9.
• Greenfield . Leonard Owen . On the adaptive pattern of "Ramapithecus" . 1979 . American Journal of Physical Anthropology . 50 . 4 . 527–48 . 10.1002/ajpa.1330500406 . 111557 .
• Book: Greenfield, L. O. . A Late Divergence Hypothesis . 222 . Ciochon . Russell L. . Fleagle . John G. . Primate evolution and human origins . Transaction Publishers . 1987 . Evolutionary Foundations of Human Behavior Series . https://books.google.com/books?id=98dBTLwvHJ4C&pg=PA222 . 2011-12-29 . 9780202011752 .
• Leakey . R.E. . Leakey . M.G. . A new Miocene small-bodied ape from Kenya . Journal of Human Evolution . 1987 . 16 . 4 . 369–87 . 10.1016/0047-2484(87)90067-4 . 1987JHumE..16..369L .
• Book: Lyell, C . Charles Lyell

. Charles Lyell . Principles of geology: being an attempt to explain the former changes of the earth's surface by reference to causes now in operation, Volume 3 . J. Murray . 1833 . 2011-12-29 .

• Schwartz . JH . The evolutionary relationships of man and orang-utans . Nature . 1984 . 308 . 5959 . 501–5 . 6424028 . 10.1038/308501a0 . 1984Natur.308..501S . 4343195 .
• Book: Tuttle, R. . Apes of the world: their social behavior, communication, mentality, and ecology . 28 . Noyes Publ. . 1986 . 9780815511045.
• Book: Tuttle, Russell H. . Seven Decades of East African Miocene Anthropoid Studies . 15–29 . Human origins and environmental backgrounds . Ishida . Hidemi . Tuttle . Russell . Pickford . Martin . Ogihara . Naomichi . Nakatsukasa . Masato . Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects . Birkhäuser . 2006 . 978-0387296388 .

External links

• Wolpoff . M. H. . De Bonis . L. . Fleagle . J. G. . Frayer . D. W. . Greenfield, L. O. . Jacobs, K. H. . Protsch, R. . Rightmire, P. G. . Sarich, V. . Ramapithecus and Hominid Origins [and Comments and Reply] . 501–522 . Current Anthropology . 1982 . 23 . 5 . 2742391 . 10.1086/202893. 88285271 .