| Anapithecus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Primates |
| Suborder: | Haplorhini |
| Infraorder: | Simiiformes |
| Family: | †Pliopithecidae |
| Subfamily: | †Crouzeliinae |
| Genus: | †Anapithecus Kretzoi, 1975 |
| Species | |
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Anapithecus (pronounced Ana-PITH-i-kuhs; from Greek πίθηκος pithekos "ape") is a lateMiocene primate (10 million years old) known from fossil locations inHungary andAustria.[1] ManyAnapithecus fossils come from the site ofRudabánya, in northern Hungary, whereAnapithecus lived alongside the apeRudapithecus.[2][3] The only species in the genus,Anapithecus hernyaki, is named after Gabor Hernyák, chief geologist of the Iron Ore Works of Rudabánya.[4]
Anapithecus belongs to the cladePliopithecoidea, an extinct group of primates that inhabitedEurasia during theMiocene epoch (17-7 million years ago).[5] Pliopithecoids arecatarrhine primates, sharing a common ancestor, and many physical characteristics, with bothapes andOld World monkeys. Evolutionarily speakingpliopithecoids are considered to be a primitive side-branch of thecatarrhine family tree, which diverged over 20 million years ago, prior to the split between apes and Old World monkeys.[1][5] Among the pliopithecoids,Anapithecus is classified as acrouzeliine. The crouzeliines are characterized by havingmolars with high, sharp crests and deep occlusal basins. These crests have been suggested to be indicative offolivory.[6]
Anapithecus weighed approximately 15 kg, about the same size as large adultgibbon.[3] Similar to other pliopithecoidsAnapithecus had a relatively short face, broad orbits with projecting rims, low cheekbones, and a globular skull.[1] Although similar in size to a gibbon, the jaw bone ofAnapithecus is much deeper and more robust.Anapithecus is defined by a series of unique dental characteristics. Most notable among these is the distinctive system of crests found on the first lower molar. The crests form a Y shape between the cusps of the teeth (although this is not to be confused with Y-5 pattern found on the lower molars of apes).[1] Less is known about postcranial morphology ofAnapithecus, as the majority of fossils consist of teeth. Still, analyses have determined thatAnapithecus was most likely a suspensory arboreal primate, which swung below from tree branch to tree branch, akin to an ape. This stands in contrast to the smaller pliopithecoids which were thought to walk atop the branches of trees, more similar to monkey.[7]
The site ofRudabánya, at which the majority ofAnapithecus fossils have been discovered, is located in north-eastern Hungary. During the late Miocene, Rudabánya was a humid subtropical forested swamp. A diverse collection of fauna have been collected from Rudabánya, includingflying squirrels,tree squirrels,hamsters,weasels,beavers, reptiles,mastodons,rhinoceroses, as well as the primitive “bear-dog”Amphicyon, and the three-toed horseHippotherium.[8]Anapithecus also shared its habitat with the Miocene ape,Rudapithecus. Although the elongated sharp crested molars ofAnapithecus suggest a folivorous diet, more rigorous analyses have determined that bothAnapithecus andRudapithecus were both primarilyfrugivorous.Anapithecus likely supplemented its diet with leaves, whereasRudapithecus likely consumedpericarp fruits as a fall back.[3]
Analysis of the enamel micro-structure ofAnapithecus shows that its dental development was similar in rate to that of Old World monkeys (particularly macaques). The first lower molar erupts at 1.45 months, then the second and third molars erupt at 2.2 and 3.2 years. This eruption time is faster than any living catarrhine primate of similar size.[9]
