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removed Category:Prehistoric primate genera using HotCat

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{{Short description|Extinct genus of hominoids}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{fossilrange|18|16}}[[Miocene]]
| image = Afropithecus turkanensis 16-18 maf kenya.JPG
| image_caption = Skull cast
| display_parents = 3
| genus = Afropithecus
| parent_authority = [[Richard Leakey|Leakey]] & [[Meave Leakey|Leakey]], 1986
| species = turkanensis
| authority = [[Richard Leakey|Leakey]] & [[Meave Leakey|Leakey]], 1986
}}

'''''Afropithecus''''' is a genus of [[Miocene]] [[hominoid]] with the sole species '''''Afropithecus turkanensis''''', it was excavated from a small site near [[Lake Turkana]] called [[Kalodirr]] in northern [[Kenya]] in 1986 and named by [[Richard Leakey]] and [[Meave Leakey]].<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998">{{cite journal |vauthors=Leakey RE, Leakey MG, Walker AC |title=Morphology of ''Afropithecus turkanensis'' from Kenya |journal=Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. |volume=76 |issue=3 |pages=289–307 |date=July 1988 |pmid=3137824 |doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330760303 }}</ref> The estimated age of ''Afropithecus'' is between 16 and 18 million years old, which was determined with [[radiometric dating]] techniques and the geological studies conducted by Broschetto and Brown from the [[University of Utah]].<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998"/> In total there are 46 recovered specimens from Kalodirr relating to ''Afropithecus'' consisting of [[Human cranium|cranial]], [[mandible]], [[dentition]] and post-cranial remains. The [[type specimen]] of ''Afropithecus turkanensis'' is KNM-WK 16999.<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998"/>

==Morphology==
Richard Leakey and Meave Leakey first described ''Afropithecus turkanensis'' to be a large hominoid which appeared to have relatively thick enamel.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1159/000156531 |pmid =1904388 |author =Leakey MG |last2=Leakey |first2=R.E. |last3=Richtsmeier |first3=J.T. |last4=Simons |first4=E.L. |last5=Walker |first5=A.C. |title=Similarities in ''Aegyptopithecus'' and ''Afropithecus'' Facial Morphology |journal=Folia Primatologica |volume=56 |issue= 2|pages=65–71 |year=1991 }}</ref> Leakey suggested that ''A. turkanensis'' shared postcranial features with the species ''[[Proconsul nyanzae]]'', which is the best known Miocene genus with literally hundreds of fossils having been found representing almost all [[skeletal]] elements, and sharing cranial features with ''[[Aegyptopithecus zeuxis]]'' and ''Heliopithecus'' which had two weathered [[molar (tooth)|molar]]s that indicated a general distinction from known large early [[catarrhines]], and later concluded that ''A. turkanenensis'' was a primitive, arboreal [[quadruped]] similar to ''P. nyanzae'', and that ''A. turkanensis'' had primitive facial morphology and derived dental characteristics that would suggest a diet of hard fruits. Leakey also synonymised ''Heliopithecus'' with ''Afropithecus''.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0047-2484(03)00006-X |vauthors=Smith TM, Martin LB, Leakey MG |title=Enamel thickness, microstructure and development in ''Afropithecus turkanensis'' |journal=J. Hum. Evol. |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=283–306 |date=March 2003 |pmid=12657518 |bibcode=2003JHumE..44..283S |citeseerx=10.1.1.494.8756 }}</ref>

===Cranial morphology===
The type specimen, KNM-WT 16999 is composed of a long distinct [[snout]], the facial skeleton, [[frontal bone|frontal]], much of the [[coronal plane|coronal]] structure, most of the [[sphenoid bone|sphenoid]], and relatively unworn [[adult dentition]]; the right orbit (virtually complete), the right [[zygomatic bone|zygomatic]], the [[pterygoid processes of the sphenoid|pterygoid]], most of the sphenoid and lesser wings, the [[maxilla]] and [[premaxilla]], and adult dentition with procumbent [[incisor]]s. The surface on the right side maxilla and premaxilla along with the [[Tooth enamel|enamel]] on the right molars has been lost over time and has been replaced with calcite crystals, which only provide the general shape and not the details.<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998"/>

From dentition it is known that the palate, which is almost completely calcified, of ''A. turkanensis'' is shallow, long and narrow with tooth rows that converge posteriorly, and it is probable the tooth rows were originally nearly parallel. A. turkanensis had a 6.5mm [[diastema (dentistry)|diastema]] between its very procumbent second incisor (KNM-WT 16999 had large, broad incisors) and the [[canine tooth|canine]].<ref name="Kelley, J. 2003">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S0047-2484(03)00005-8 |vauthors=Kelley J, Smith TM |title=Age at first molar emergence in early Miocene ''Afropithecus turkanensis'' and life-history evolution in the Hominoidea |journal=J. Hum. Evol. |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=307–29 |date=March 2003 |pmid=12657519 |bibcode=2003JHumE..44..307K }}</ref>

The thickness of the enamel on the molars is often reported when fossils are being recorded and used to make comparisons across taxa. The thickness is referred to either as "thin" or "thick" and is commonly assessed as a linear measurement of the enamel on worn or naturally fractured teeth. From enamel testing it has been suggested that ''A. turkanensis'' is the oldest known thick-enamelled hominoid, which is what would distinguish it from ''[[Kenyapithecus]]''.<ref name="Kelley, J. 2003"/>

===Post-cranial morphology===
Post cranial remains such as KNM-WK 16901, includes an associated right fibula (lacking the proximal portion, and is approximately the same size as ''Pan troglodytes''; 184 mm), a right proximal third [[metatarsal]], a right fourth metatarsal lacking the head, and an incomplete first metatarsal head.<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998"/>

Other post-cranial remains include: KNM-WK 17016P a large right [[ulna]], and foot or hand bones: KNM-WK 17008, KNM-WK 18395.<ref name="Leakey, R.E. 1998"/>

==Feeding==
Morphological analysis of the teeth and palate of ''Afropithecus'' suggests that it utilized a sclerocarpic foraging diet similar to members of [[Pitheciidae]], in contrast to that of ''[[Morotopithecus]]''.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Andrew S. Deane |year=2017 |title=Re-evaluating the diets of ''Morotopithecus bishopi'' and ''Afropithecus turkanensis'': An anterior dentognathic perspective |journal=Journal of Human Evolution |volume=112 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.08.012 |pmid=29037412 |bibcode=2017JHumE.112....1D }}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Griphopithecus]]''
* ''[[Graecopithecus]]''
* ''[[Chororapithecus]]''
* ''[[Dryopithecus]]''
* ''[[Pierolapithecus]]''
* ''[[Samburupithecus]]''
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*{{cite journal |vauthors=Patel BA, Grossman A |title=Dental metric comparisons of ''Morotopithecus'' and ''Afropithecus'': implications for the validity of the genus ''Morotopithecus'' |journal=J. Hum. Evol. |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=506–12 |date=November 2006 |pmid=16914180 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.07.002 |bibcode=2006JHumE..51..506P }}

==External links==
*[http://www.primates.com/history/ Planet of the Apes | Primates]

{{Haplorhini|Ho.}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q27664414|from2=Q40400}}

[[Category:Prehistoric apes]]
[[Category:Miocene primates of Africa]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1986]]
[[Category:Monotypic prehistoric primate genera]]

Afropithecus - Revision history

imported>Jlwoodwa: removed Category:Prehistoric primate genera using HotCat