Family Cercopithecidae Phylum Chordata Order Primate | Species V. macinnesi Rank Genus | |
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Subfamily Victoriapithecinaevon Koenigswald, 1969 Scientific name Victoriapithecus macinnesi Similar Primate, Afropithecus, Kenyapithecus, Rangwapithecus, Dendropithecus | ||
Victoriapithecus macinnesi was a primate. It was described from a single fossil specimen, the oldest Old World monkey skull fossil. It was discovered near Lake Victoria in Kenya by Dr. Brenda Benefit. It dates from the middle Miocene and was closely related to the two or three extinct Prohylobates species.
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Morphology
Victoriapithecus macinnesi had a dental formula of 2:1:2:3 on both the upper and lower jaws. This species had lower molars that are bilophodont with low cusps. The canines of Victoriapithecus macinnesi show sexual dimorphism and the mandible of this species is relatively deep compared to other Old World monkeys. On the forelimbs, the distal end of the humerus shows a narrow articulation and a deep ulnar notch. Victoriapithecus macinnesi had an average body mass of around 7.0 kilograms. The volume of the brain — 36 cm³.
Range and locomotion
Victoriapithecus macinnesi lived in Africa. The postcranial remains indicate it was likely quadrupedal.
