''Rangwapithecus'' is an extinct genus of ape from the Early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

of Kenya. Late Miocene phalanges from Hungary have also been assigned to this genus, but were later reclassified as ''

Dryopithecus ''Dryopithecus'' is a genus of extinct great apes from the middle– late Miocene boundary of Europe 12.5 to 11.1 million years ago (mya). Since its discovery in 1856, the genus has been subject to taxonomic turmoil, with numerous new specie ...

''.

Description

''Rangwapithecus'' weighed approximately and the size and shape of the ape's teeth indicate that it was a

folivore In zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less energy than other types of foods, and often toxic compounds.Jones, S., Martin, R., & Pilbeam, D. (1 ...

. An arboreal ape from the earliest

adapted to life in the rainforest, it is associated particularly with

Mfangano Island Mfangano Island lies in the eastern part of Lake Victoria, at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. Part of Kenya, it lies west of Rusinga Island. The island is 65 km² in area and rises to 1,694 m at Mount Kwitutu. It had a population of 16,282 at ...

although the species previously inhabited a woodland-bushland environment.

Taxonomy

''Rangwapithecus'' was sympatric with ''

Proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority. In the Roman Republic, military command, or ...

'', and may be synonymous with both ''Proconsul gordoni'' and ''Proconsul vancouveringi''. It is also similar to another species found in Africa. ''Rangwapithecus gordoni'' and ''P. africanus'' are similarly sized though they differ morphologically, and both are restricted to Koru and Songhur.

Notes

References

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External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q5237068 Prehistoric apes Miocene primates of Africa Prehistoric primate genera Cenozoic mammals of Africa Fossil taxa described in 1974