Biology:Pliopithecus

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Short description: Extinct genus of primates

Pliopithecus
Temporal range: Miocene
Pliopithecus antiquus.jpg
Mandible fragment of Pliopithecus antiquus from Sansan, France; cast from Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Pliopithecidae
Subfamily: Pliopithecinae
Genus: Pliopithecus
Gervais, 1849
Paleospecies
  • Pliopithecus antiquus
  • Pliopithecus bii
  • Pliopithecus canmatensis
  • Pliopithecus piveteaui
  • Pliopithecus platyodon
  • Pliopithecus vindobonensis
  • Pliopithecus zhanxiangi
Pliopithecus antiquus jaw seen from above

Pliopithecus {meaning "more ape") is a genus of extinct primates of the Miocene. It was discovered in 1837 by Édouard Lartet (1801–1871) in France , with fossils subsequently discovered in Switzerland , Slovakia and Spain .

Pliopithecus had a similar size and form to modern gibbons, to which it may be related, although it is probably not a direct ancestor. It had long limbs, hands, and feet, and may have been able to brachiate, swinging between trees using its arms. Unlike gibbons, it had a short tail, and only partial stereoscopic vision.[1]

They appear to have originated in Asia and extended their range into Europe between 20 and 17 million years ago.[2]

Begun and Harrison list the following species within the genus:[2]

  • Pliopithecus antiquus
  • Pliopithecus bii
  • Pliopithecus canmatensis
  • Pliopithecus platyodon
  • Pliopithecus vindobonensis
  • Pliopithecus zhanxiangi

Pliopithecus antiquus has been referred to previously as P. piveteaui.[3] P. vindobonensis is sometimes considered to be a separate genus, Epipliopithecus.[4][2] Anapithecus is a close relative and was initially considered a subgenus of Pliopithecus.

References

  1. Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. pp. 291. ISBN 1-84028-152-9. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harrison, Terry (2018). "Catarrhine Origins". in Trevathan, Wenda. The International Encyclopedia of Biological Anthropology. 1. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 306-311. doi:10.1002/9781118584538.ieba0087. https://www.academia.edu/38186334/2018_Harrison_Catarrhine_Origins. 
  3. "Pliopithecus antiquus Blainville 1839". http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=64158. ""Synonym: Pliopithecus piveteaui Hürzeler 1954"" 
  4. Harrison, T; Gu, Y (1999). Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of early Miocene catarrhines from Sihong, China. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=143129. 

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q135231 entry