imported>Jlwoodwa: removed Category:Prehistoric primate genera; added Category:Monotypic prehistoric primate genera using HotCat

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removed Category:Prehistoric primate genera; added Category:Monotypic prehistoric primate genera using HotCat

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{{Short description|Extinct genus of primates}}
{{Speciesbox
| taxon = Algeripithecus minutus
| extinct = yes
| parent_authority = Godinot & Mahboubi, 1992
| authority = Godinot & Mahboubi, 1992
| name = ''Algeripithecus''
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|50|46|Early to Middle [[Eocene]]}}
}}

'''''Algeripithecus''''' is an extinct [[genus]] of early [[List of fossil primates|fossil primate]], weighing approximately {{convert|65|to|85|g|oz}}. Fossils have been found in [[Algeria]] dating from 50 to 46 million years ago.

It was once commonly thought to be one of the oldest [[simian]] primates (a group that includes [[monkey]]s and [[ape]]s), and was crucial to the hypothesis that simians originated in [[Africa]]. Research on more complete specimens suggest it was instead a [[Strepsirrhini|strepsirrhine]] [[primate]], more closely related to living [[lemur]]s and [[Lorisoidea|lorisoids]]. However, this is still disputed.

==Discovery==
Fragmentary fossils were first found in the Glib Formation at the Glib Zegdou locality in [[Algeria]] and dated to the Early to Middle [[Eocene]], 50 to 46 million years ago. The [[holotype]] was an upper left molar (M2).{{Sfn|Godinot|Mahboubi|1992|p=324}}

==Evolutionary history and taxonomy==
First described in the journal ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' by [[Marc Godinot]] and [[Mohamed Mahboubi]] in 1992,{{Sfn|Godinot|Mahboubi|1992|p=324}} ''Algeripithecus'' was once widely considered one of the oldest known fossil simian primates, giving weight to the African origins hypothesis for simians. It was originally interpreted as a [[Propliopithecidae|propliopithecid]], but was also seen as a [[Proteopithecidae|proteopithecid]] by Godinot in 1994 and as a [[parapithecoidea|parapithecoid]] by Seiffert ''et al.'' starting in 2005.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|pp=4087–4088}} Based on the discovery of additional fossil teeth and a [[maxilla]] (upper jaw) between 2003 and 2009, Tabuce ''et al.'' reconstructed ''Algeripithecus'' as an [[Azibiidae|azibiid]],{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|p=4089}} a group thought to be a type of [[Stem group|stem]] [[Lemuriformes|lemuriform]], or strepsirrhine primate.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|p=4087}} According to Tabuce ''et al.'', the [[mandible]] of ''Algeripithecus'' indicates it had an inclined [[canine tooth]], similar to that found in [[toothcomb]]ed primates. Although the anterior dentition of azibiids is unknown, they may have possessed a toothcomb, indicating an ancient stem lineage of lemuriform primates in Africa,{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|pp=4092–4093}} possibly descended from an early Asian branch of adapiforms{{Sfn|Godinot|2006|pp=461–462}} such as a primitive branch of [[Cercamoniinae|cercamoniines]] predating ''[[Donrussellia]]'' (one of the oldest European adapiforms).{{Sfn|Godinot|2006|pp=454–455}} As a result, the African origins of [[Crown group|crown]] strepsirhines (including [[lemur]]s and [[Lorisoidea|lorisoids]]) is well supported, whereas the African origins of simians has been placed in doubt, possibly giving favor to an Asian origins hypothesis.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|p=4087}} However, in 2010, Godinot reasserted his view that ''Algeripithecus'' was a simian based on its upper molar morphology and hypothesized that this applied to all azibiids, favoring his earlier view that azibiids may be early simians instead of stem lemuriforms.{{Sfn|Godinot|2010|pp=322–323}} In 2011, Marivaux ''et al.'' published an interpretation of recently discovered [[talus bone]]s{{efn|Talus bones are commonly used to [[Biological classification|taxonomically]] differentiate simians from "[[prosimian]]" primates in the fossil record.{{Sfn|Marivaux|Tabuce|Lebrun|Ravel|2011|p=451}}}} of closely related ''[[Azibius]]'' found at Gour Lazib, which they claimed were more similar to those of living strepsirrhines and extinct adapiforms, not simians, thus reinforcing the strepsirrhine status favored by Tabuce ''et al.'' two years earlier.{{Sfn|Marivaux|Tabuce|Lebrun|Ravel|2011|pp=452–453}}

Godinot also cautiously suggested that ''Dralestes'' may be a [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] of ''Algeripithecus'' based on a blade-like premolar.{{Sfn|Godinot|2010|pp=322–323}} Alternatively, the second upper molar (M2) of ''Dralestes hammadaensis'' have been reinterpreted by Tabuce ''et al.'' as being the upper fourth premolar (P4) of ''Azibius'', and therefore considered ''Dralestes'' to be a synonym of ''Azibius''. Specimens of ''Dralestes'' are now recognized as being either ''Azibius'' and ''Algeripithecus''.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|pp=4088–4089}}

==Anatomy and physiology==
Like all azibiids, ''Algeripithecus'' was a small-bodied primate.{{Sfn|Marivaux|Tabuce|Lebrun|Ravel|2011|p=453}} Initially thought to weigh {{convert|150|to|300|g|oz|abbr=on}},{{Sfn|Godinot|Mahboubi|1992|p=324}} ''Algeripithecus minutus'' is now estimated{{efn|Size estimates were calculated using regressions of the area of the first [[Molar (tooth)|molar]] compared to living primates.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|p=4088}}}} to have weighed between {{convert|65|and|85|g|oz|abbr=on}}, nearly half the weight of the only other known azibiid, ''[[Azibius|Azibius trerki]]''.{{Sfn|Tabuce|Marivaux|Lebrun|Adaci|2009|p=4088}} It was comparable in size to a [[hairy-eared dwarf lemur]] (''Allocebus trichotis'') or a [[brown mouse lemur]] (''Microcebus rufus'').{{Sfn|Marivaux|Tabuce|Lebrun|Ravel|2011|p=453}}

== Notes ==
{{notes}}

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Literature cited ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Godinot | first1 = M. | last2 = Mahboubi | first2 = M. | doi = 10.1038/357324a0 | title = Earliest known simian primate found in Algeria | journal = Nature | volume = 357 | issue = 6376 | pages = 324–326 | year = 1992 | pmid = 1589034| bibcode = 1992Natur.357..324G | s2cid = 4331684 }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Godinot | first1 = M. | doi = 10.1159/000095391 | title = Lemuriform origins as viewed from the fossil record | journal = Folia Primatologica | volume = 77 | issue = 6| pages = 446–464| year = 2006 | pmid = 17053330| s2cid = 24163044 }}
* {{cite book | editor1-last = Werdelin | editor1-first = L. | editor2-last = Sanders | editor2-first = W.J | title = Cenozoic Mammals of Africa | publisher = University of California Press | year = 2010 | isbn = 978-0-520-25721-4 | contribution = Chapter 19: Paleogene Prosimians | last1 = Godinot | first1 = M. }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Marivaux | first1 = L. | last2 = Tabuce | first2 = R. | last3 = Lebrun | first3 = R. | last4 = Ravel | first4 = A. | last5 = Adaci | first5 = M. | last6 = Mahboubi | first6 = M.H. | last7 = Bensalah | first7 = M. | doi = 10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.05.013 | title = Talar morphology of azibiids, strepsirhine-related primates from the Eocene of Algeria: Phylogenetic affinities and locomotor adaptation | journal = Journal of Human Evolution | volume = 61 | issue = 4 | pages = 447–457 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21752425| bibcode = 2011JHumE..61..447M }}
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Tabuce | first1 = R. | last2 = Marivaux | first2 = L. | last3 = Lebrun | first3 = R. | last4 = Adaci | first4 = M. | last5 = Bensalah | first5 = M. | last6 = Fabre | first6 = P. -H. | last7 = Fara | first7 = E. | last8 = Gomes Rodrigues | first8 = H. | last9 = Hautier | first9 = L. | doi = 10.1098/rspb.2009.1339 | last10 = Jaeger | first10 = J. -J. | last11 = Lazzari | first11 = V. | last12 = Mebrouk | first12 = F. | last13 = Peigne | first13 = S. | last14 = Sudre | first14 = J. | last15 = Tafforeau | first15 = P. | last16 = Valentin | first16 = X. | last17 = Mahboubi | first17 = M. | title = Anthropoid versus strepsirhine status of the African Eocene primates ''Algeripithecus'' and ''Azibius'': Craniodental evidence | journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences | volume = 276 | issue = 1676 | pages = 4087–4094 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19740889| pmc = 2821352}}
**{{lay source |date=15 September 2009 |title=African Origin Of Anthropoid Primates Called Into Question With New Fossil Discovery |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915101355.htm |website=Science Daily}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://primatology.net/2009/09/15/algeripithecus-and-azibius-anthropoids-or-strepsirhines/ Algeripithecus and Azibius: Anthropoids or Strepsirhines?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112070647/http://primatology.net/2009/09/15/algeripithecus-and-azibius-anthropoids-or-strepsirhines/ |date=2012-11-12 }}, September 15, 2009

{{Strepsirrhini|S.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4062206}}

[[Category:Azibiidae]]
[[Category:Eocene primates]]
[[Category:Eocene mammals of Africa]]
[[Category:Monotypic prehistoric primate genera]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 1992]]

Algeripithecus - Revision history

imported>Jlwoodwa: removed Category:Prehistoric primate genera; added Category:Monotypic prehistoric primate genera using HotCat