Primates II (Talk.Origins)

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GAP: Here's that Oligocene gap mentioned above in the timescale. Very few primate fossils are known between the late Eocene and early Oligocene, when there was a sharp change in global climate. Several other mammal groups have a similar gap.

Given how fragmented Amphipithecus, and Pondaungia are it is laughable for them to call this a gap.

Parapithecus (early Oligocene) -- The O.W. monkeys split from the apes split around now. Parapithecus was probably at the start of the O.W. monkey line. From here the O.W. monkeys go through Oreopithecus (early Miocene, Kenya) to modern monkey groups of the Miocene & Pliocene.

No real data is presented here, just a statement of what Evolutionists think happened. No reason is given for why Parapithecus is even on the list. Parapithecus is probably a variety of lemur, but since they already appear in form of Pelycodus this is only variety within a kind of animal.

Propliopithecus, Aegyptopithecus (early Oligocene, Egypt) -- From the same time as Parapithecus, but probably at the beginning of the ape lineage. First ape characters (deep jaw, 2 premolars, 5- cusped teeth, etc.).

Propliopithecus seems to be the same kind as Parapithecus, which was probably a variety of lemur. Further more propliopithecus is dated as contemporary with Parapithecus and so Parapithecus could not be ancestor to Propliopithecus.

Aegyptopithecus (early-mid Oligocene, Egypt) -- Slightly later anthropoid (ape/hominid) with more ape features. It was a fruit-eating runner/climber, larger, with a rounder brain and shorter face.

Based on the comparison of Propliopithecus and Parapithecus with the lemur, Aegyptopithecus is probably the same kind of animal as Propliopithecus and Parapithecus and they are all probably a variety of lemur. Furthermore, Aegyptopithecus is dated as contemporary with Propliopithecus and Parapithecus but apparently just out lived them.

Proconsul africanus (early Miocene, Kenya.) -- A sexually dimorphic, fruit-eating, arboreal quadruped probably ancestral to all the later apes and humans. Had a mosaic of ape-like and primitive features; Ape-like elbow, shoulder and feet; monkey- like wrist; gibbon-like lumbar vertebrae.

Curiously, there is an unmentioned gap in "dates" with the late Oligocene missing. Proconsul africanus is described as being "gibbon-like"; as such it is probably a variety of gibbon.

Limnopithecus (early Miocene, Africa) -- A later ape probably ancestral to gibbons.

Limnopithecus has been described as similar to modern gibbons, so it probably was a variety of gibbon. It is also dated as contempary with Proconsul africanus the showing that Proconsul africanus is not ancestral to Limnopithecus.

Dryopithecus (mid-Miocene) -- A later ape probably ancestral to the great apes & humans. At this point Africa & Asia connected via Arabia, and the non-gibbon apes divided into two lines:

There does not appear to be any evidence of postcranial fossils for Dryopithecus; this makes a proper classification difficult. It also makes a real comparison with other types impossible.

• Reference: Dryopithecus y el origen de los grandes monos actuales
• Reference: Dryopithecus fontani
• Reference: Dryopithecus major
• Reference: On the Lower Jaw of an Anthropoid Ape [Dryopithecus]
• Reference: Hominidenevolution in Afrika

1. Sivapithecus (including "Gigantopithecus" & "Ramapithecus", mid- Miocene) -- Moved to Asia & gave rise to the orangutan.

There does not appear to be any evidence of postcranial fossils of Sivapithecus; this makes a proper classification difficult. It seems to be based only on skulls. It is enough see that Sivapithecus and Dryopithecus are different kinds of animals, with no real evidence of a relationship. Furthermore, Sivapithecus is dated as the same age as Dryopithecus, so the order is arbitrary.

• Reference: Sivapithecus
• Reference: Human Evolution - ^Sivapithecus indicus jaw top view
• Reference: Human Evolution - ^Sivapithecus indicus jaw front view

2. Kenyapithecus (mid-Miocene, about 16 Ma) -- Stayed in Africa & gave rise to the African great apes & humans.

Kenyapithecus is dated as the same age as Sivapithecus and Dryopithecus, so the order is arbitrary.

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See Also

• Transitional forms
• Evolutionism
• Anticreation