ANTH 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Kenyapithecus, Pierolapithecus, Brachiation
Document Summary
Pierolapithecus: a middle miocene ape that had wrists and vertebrae that would have made it capable of brachiation, but also has relatively short fingers like modern monkeys. Kenyapithecus: an apelike primate from the middle miocene found in east africa. It had very thickly enameled teeth and robust jaws, suggesting a diet of hard, tough foods. Pierolapithecus however has wrists and vertebrae that would have made it capable of brachiation, also have relatively short fingers like modern monkeys. Fossil record suggests that monkey in the old world became more and more numerous than apes toward the end of the miocene- trend continues to the present day. Oreopithecus (late miocene ape) clearly adapted to life in thickly forested marshlands, extremely long arms and hands and mobile joints-likely an agile brachiator, dentition suggests a diet of mostly leaves, ape-like body, monkey-like head. Two main groups of miocene apes: sivapithecids and dryopithecus.
