| Parapapio | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Family: | Cercopithecidae |
| Subfamily: | Cercopithecinae |
| Tribe: | Papionini |
| Genus: | †Parapapio T.R. Jones, 1937 |
| Species | |
†Parapapio jonesi | |
Parapapio is agenus ofprehistoricbaboons closely resembling the forest-dwellingmangabeys.Parapapio is distinguished from otherPapio by the lack of an anteorbital drop, thin browridges, absence ofmaxillary fossae or asagittal crest and only slightsexual dimorphism.[1]
There are four recognized species,Pp. jonesi,Pp. whitei,Pp. broomi, andPp. lothagamensis, but thesetaxonomic designations have generated some controversy. Traditionally, these species have been distinguished based onmolar size withPp. jonesi being the smallest andPp. whitei the largest. However, variation in molar size inPp. broomi overlaps the other two.[2]Pp. jonesi is distinguished as having a more squarish muzzle thanPp. whitei but more rounded thanPp. broomi; however these distinctions are subtle and better diagnostic criteria are needed.[1]
Some authors argue for a confused taxonomy inParapapio but disagree with the reclassification. Since there may be no significant difference between mean tooth sizes orisotopic signatures inPp. broomi andPp. jonesi,[3] these may represent a single sexually dimorphic species.[4] However, the ranges of variation inPp. broomi andPp. whitei overlap and show no statistical differences based on anANOVA run on the eleven interlandmark distances used in their analysis, and propose that the two are merely a single variable species.[2] The sample ofPp. jonesi (STS 565) differs enough in facial characteristics that it remains distinctive from otherParapapio species.