Nakalipithecus

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Nakalipithecus
Temporal range:
Ma
↓
Top and side views of the Nakalipithecus
molars
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: Hominidae
Genus: †Nakalipithecus
Kunimatsu et al., 2007
Species:
†N. nakayamai
Binomial name
†Nakalipithecus nakayamai
Kunimatsu et al., 2007

Nakalipithecus nakayamai, sometimes referred to as the Nakali ape,

sclerophyllous
woodland environment.

Taxonomy

Hominidae

Kenyapithecus

Nakalipithecus (as a

hominid
)

Two hypotheses on Nakalipithecus taxonomy[2]

Nakalipithecus was first described from a right jawbone, the

molars, and the isolated teeth are: a left first incisor, a right first incisor, a right canine, a right third upper premolar, a left third upper premolar, a right left fourth upper premolar, a left fourth upper premolar, a right first upper molar, a right third upper molar, a left third upper molar, and a left fourth lower premolar.[3]

It is debated if great

last common ancestor of all modern African apes, which existed about 9–8 million years ago.[3]

Nakalipithecus and the 9 million year old Greek

deciduous fourth premolars—deciduous teeth are less affected by environmental factors as they soon fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth—found that Nakalipithecus and later African apes (including australopithecines) shared more similarities with each other than to Eurasian apes, though drew no clear conclusion on the Nakalipithecus–Ouranopithecus relationship.[5]

Nakalipithecus has also been proposed to have been the ancestor to the 8 million year old Chororapithecus, which possibly represents an early member of the gorilla line; if both of these are correct, then Nakalipithecus could potentially represent an early gorilla.[2]

Anatomy

Nakalipithecus has an overall large size, with teeth similar in size to those of female gorillas and orangutans. The specimen is thus presumed female. The Samburupithecus specimen was also about the same size. Unlike other apes, the canines are short, and as long as they are wide—about 10.7 mm × 10.5 mm (0.42 in × 0.41 in) in height and width respectively. For comparison, the left first incisor is 10.8 mm × 8.6 mm (0.43 in × 0.34 in). The premolars are elongated, and the

protoconid (the cusp on the tongue side) of the third premolar is oriented more cheekwards, which is a distinguishing characteristic of Miocene African apes from Miocene Eurasian apes. Compared to African apes contemporary with Nakalipithecus, the tooth enamel on the molars is thinner, and the cusps (which project outward from the tooth) are less inflated, creating a wider basin. In the holotype, the first, second, and third molars are 15.6 mm × 14 mm (0.61 in × 0.55 in), 16.2 mm × 15.8 mm (0.64 in × 0.62 in), and 19.5 mm × 15.1 mm (0.77 in × 0.59 in), respectively. Like modern and some contemporary apes, but unlike earlier East African apes, the first molar is relatively large, with a first molar to second molar ratio of 85%. Like Ouranopithecus and early Sivapithecus (Sivapithecus is known from the Indian subcontinent), but unlike most contemporary and future apes, the third molar was much larger than the second, with a third molar to second molar ratio of 115%, though this ratio is smaller than that of the later Southeast Asian Khoratpithecus. The mandible is less robust (heavily built) than those of contemporary Eurasian Miocene apes, except for Ouranopithecus.[3]

Palaeobiology

During the Late Miocene, East Africa, the

C3 (forest) plants. Nakalipithecus is known from the Upper Beds, which comprise lakeside or riverine deposits.[3] Climate change caused the expansion of grasslands in Africa from 10–7 million years ago, likely fragmenting populations of forest-dwelling primates, leading to extinction.[6]

Nakali has also yielded a

colobine monkey Microcolobus.[10] The third premolar of a small nyanzapithecine ape was also found in Nakali,[11][6] and Samburupithecus was nearly contemporaneous with Nakalipithecus, and was discovered 60 km (37 mi) to the north of Nakali.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kiarie, Maina. "Nakalipithecus". Enzi Museum. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^
    S2CID 205247254
    .
  3. ^
    PMID 18024593
    .
  4. ISSN 0286-9667
    .
  5. hdl:2115/71435
    .
  6. ^
    doi:10.1537/ase.170126
    .
  7. S2CID 135074081
    .
  8. ^
    doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330690404
    .
  9. doi:10.14907/primate.26.0.147.0
    . 147.
  10. PMID 20949609
    .
  11. doi:10.1537/ase.160331
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nakalipithecus&oldid=1220768027"