Ugandapithecus

Ugandapithecus
Temporal range: Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Proconsulidae (extinct)
Subfamily: Proconsulinae (extinct)
Genus: Ugandapithecus (extinct)
Species

Ugandapithecus is a disputed extinct genus of hominoid primates that existed from 22 to 14 million years ago during the Miocene epoch. Fossil remains are present in Eastern Africa including Kenya and Uganda. Four species have been classified to date. It has been suggested that these successively larger species evolved from one another.[1] Others argue that Ugandapithecus is a subjective synonym of Proconsul.[2]

  • Ugandapithecus meswae, 21.5 – 19 Mya (previously Proconsul meswae)
  • Ugandapithecus legetetensis, 20 – 19 Mya
  • Ugandapithecus major, 19 – 18 Mya (previouslyProconsul major)
  • Ugandapithecus gitongai, ca. 14.5 Mya

References

  1. Pickford, M.; Senut, B.; Gommery, D.; Musiime, E. (17 December 2009). "Distinctiveness of Ugandapithecus from Proconsul". Estudios Geológicos. 65 (2): 183–241. doi:10.3989/egeol.39926.071. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  2. Harrison, Terry; Andrews, Peter (1 May 2009). "The anatomy and systematic position of the early Miocene proconsulid from Meswa Bridge, Kenya". Journal of Human Evolution. 56 (5): 479–496. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2009.02.005. PMID 19394999.


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