| Rangwapithecus | |
|---|---|
| Jaw ofRangwapithecus gordoni | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Family: | †Dendropithecidae |
| Subfamily: | †Nyanzapithecinae |
| Genus: | †Rangwapithecus Andrews, 1974 |
Rangwapithecus is anextinctgenus of ape from theEarly Miocene of Kenya.Late Miocene phalanges fromHungary have also been assigned to this genus, but were later reclassified asDryopithecus.[1]
Rangwapithecus weighed approximately 15 kg (33 lb) and the size and shape of the ape's teeth indicate that it was afolivore.[2] An arboreal ape from the earliestMiocene[3] adapted to life in the rainforest, it is associated particularly withMfangano Island[4] although the species previously inhabited a woodland-bushland environment.[5]
Rangwapithecus wassympatric withProconsul,[6] and may be synonymous with bothProconsul gordoni andProconsul vancouveringi.[7] It is also similar to another species[vague] found in Africa.[8]Rangwapithecus gordoni andP. africanus are similarly sized though they differ morphologically, and both are restricted to Koru and Songhur.[9]
Rangwapithecus was a generalisedfrugivore that was also able to engage infolivory as a fallback during times of dietary stress.[10]