Proconsul nyanzae


TAXONOMY:

MORPHOLOGY:
Proconsul nyanzae had a dental formula 2:1:2:3 on both the upper and lower jaw (Fleagle, 1988). The canines of this species are sexually dimorphic (Fleagle, 1988). The upper molars of this species had a posterior cingulum which was well-developed and the lingual cingulum was beaded (Conroy, 1990). The lower second molars of this species are larger than the first and third molars (Conroy, 1990). This species has an olecranon process on the ulna which extends posteriorly (Fleagle, 1988). This species had a grasping hallux (Conroy, 1990). This species had an average body mass of 28.0 kilograms (Fleagle, 1988).

RANGE:
Proconsul nyanzae lived on the continent of Africa and occurred during the early Miocene (Fleagle, 1988).

DIET:
Based upon dental morphology this was a frugivorous species (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.

Last updated: November 15, 2001

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