Mesopithecus pentelici


TAXONOMY:

MORPHOLOGY:
Mesopithecus pentelici has a dental formula of 2:1:2:3 on both the upper and lower jaws (Fleagle, 1988). This species has relatively small incisors and cheek teeth (premolars and molars) with high crowns (Fleagle, 1988). The mandible of this species is relatively deep (Fleagle, 1988). The face is short with large orbits and a broad interorbital distance and a narrow nasal opening (Fleagle, 1988). This species has an external, tubular ectotympanic bone (Martin, 1990). The limbs are more robust and the digits relatively shorter as compared to extant colobines (Fleagle, 1988). The postcranial skeleton suggests that this was a terrestrial species (Martin, 1990). This species had an average body mass of around 8.0 kilograms (Fleagle, 1988).

RANGE:
Mesopithecus pentelici was found from southern and central Europe and the country of Afghanistan and occurred from the late Miocene to the Pliocene (Fleagle, 1988).

DIET:
Based upon the dental morphology this was a folivorous species (Fleagle, 1988).

REFERENCES:
Fleagle, J.G. 1988. Primate Adaptation and Evolution. Academic Press: New York.

Martin, R.D. 1990. Primate Origins and Evolution: A Phylogenetic Reconstruction. Princeton University Press: Princeton, New Jersey.

Last updated: November 16, 2001

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