A new genus of large primate from the Late Oligocene of Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya

The species Proconsul (Xenopithecus) hamiltoni was based on two weathered molars in a maxillary fragment from the Erageleit beds, Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya. New fossils from Lothidok show a unique suite of features indicating generic distinction of this taxon from other known large early cat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of human evolution 1995-06, Vol.28 (6), p.519-531
Main Authors: Leakey, M.G., Ungar, P.S., Walker, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environmental studies
Fauna
Kenya
Methodology and general studies
Oligocene, catarrhine, Kenya
Physical anthropology
Prehistory and protohistory
Primates
Primatology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The species Proconsul (Xenopithecus) hamiltoni was based on two weathered molars in a maxillary fragment from the Erageleit beds, Lothidok, Turkana District, Kenya. New fossils from Lothidok show a unique suite of features indicating generic distinction of this taxon from other known large early catarrhines. A new generic diagnosis is given. The new genus, although still poorly known, may be the first Oligocene hominoid from East Africa. It retains many primitive features, but the few derived ones hint that it may be related to the Afropithecus group.
ISSN:0047-2484
1095-8606
DOI:10.1006/jhev.1995.1040