Parapithecus grangeri


TAXONOMY:

MORPHOLOGY:
Parapithecus grangeri has a dental formula of 2:1:3:3 on the upper jaw and 0:1:3:3 on the lower jaw (Fleagle, 1988). The lower jaw has a milk-tooth dentition of 1:1:3 (Martin, 1990). On the lower molars the cusps are arranged in two lophs (Fleagle, 1988). The lower premolars have short, bulbous cusps and the upper premolars have three cusps which are prominent (Fleagle, 1988). The molars of this species had well-developed shearing crests (Conroy, 1990). The canines of this species are tusk-like in appearance (Fleagle, 1988).

RANGE:
Parapithecus grangeri was found in Africa and discovered in the country of Egypt (Fleagle, 1988). This species occurred during the early Oligocene (Fleagle, 1988).

DIET:
Based upon dental morphology this species probably had a folivorous diet (Fleagle, 1988).

REFERENCES:
Conroy, G.C. 1990. Primate Evolution. W.W. Norton and Co.: New York.

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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