Equatorius

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Equatorus
Temporal range: Miocene (16–10 mya)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Genus: Equatorus
Ward et al. 1999
Species

E. africanus

Equatorius is an extinct primate genus of Kenyapithecus identified as a result of a skeleton found in central Kenya at the Tugen Hills.[1] Thirty eight large teeth belonging to the middle Miocene hominid in addition to a mandibular and partially complete skeleton dated 15.58 Ma and 15.36 Ma. were later found.[2]

Analysis

The anatomical structures in part was seen to be similar to the Afropithecus and Proconsul. Nevertheless, anatomy and morphology suggested the genus had an increased terrestrial habitat.[3]

Taxonomy

Ward et al. 1999, using their previous published study of K.africanus, based the separate definition on comparisons of gnathic and dental anatomy.[4] The classification's validity was subsequently challenged.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ward et al. 1999
  2. ↑ Kelley et al. 2002
  3. ↑ Sherwood et al. 2002
  4. ↑ Ward & Duren 2002, Begun 2002
  5. ↑ See McCrossin & Benefit's comment in Begun 2002

References

  • Begun, David R. (March 2000). "Technical Comments: Middle Miocene Hominoid Origins". Science 287 (5462): 2375. doi:10.1126/science.287.5462.2375a. 
  • Kelley, J; Ward, S; Brown, B; Hill, A; Duren, DL (Jan–Feb 2002). "Dental remains of Equatorius africanus from Kipsaramon, Tugen Hills, Baringo District, Kenya". J Hum Evol. 42 (1-2): 39–62. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0504. PMID 11795967. 
  • Sherwood, RJ; Ward, S; Hill, A; Duren, DL; Brown, B; Downs, W (Jan–Feb 2002). "Preliminary description of the Equatorius africanus partial skeleton (KNM-TH 28860) from Kipsaramon, Tugen Hills, Baringo District, Kenya". J Hum Evol. 42 (1-2): 63–73. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0502. PMID 11795968. 
  • Ward, Steven C.; Duren, Dana L. (2002). "Middle and late Miocene African hominoids". In Hartwig, Walter. The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521663151. 
  • Ward, Steve; Brown, Barbara; Hill, Andrew; Kelley, Jay; Downs, Will (August 1999). "Equatorius: A New Hominoid Genus from the Middle Miocene of Kenya". Science 285 (5432): 1382–1386. doi:10.1126/science.285.5432.1382. PMID 10464093. 
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