''Ugandapithecus'' is a disputed extinct genus of

hominoid Apes (collectively Hominoidea ) are a clade of Old World simians native to sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia (though they were more widespread in Africa, most of Asia, and as well as Europe in prehistory), which together with its sister g ...

primates that existed from 22 to 14 million years ago during the

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 ...

epoch. Fossil remains are present in Eastern Africa including Kenya and Uganda. Four species have been classified to date. It has been suggested that these successively larger species evolved from one another. Others argue that ''Ugandapithecus'' is a

subjective synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...

of ''

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 ...

.'' * ''Ugandapithecus meswae'', 21.5 – 19 Mya (previously '' Proconsul meswae'') * ''Ugandapithecus legetetensis'', 20 – 19 Mya * '' Ugandapithecus major'', 19 – 18 Mya (previously '' Proconsul major'') * ''Ugandapithecus gitongai'', ca. 14.5 Mya

References

Prehistoric apes Miocene primates of Africa Paleofauna of Uganda Prehistoric primate genera {{paleo-primate-stub