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Victoriapithecus

Victoriapithecus

2023-07-18 Snargl 02:16

What kind of animal is Victoriapithecus?

Big Victoriapithecus standing in the middle of a forest with the sun shining behind it and his arms stretched out
Victoriapithecus standing in the middle of a forest with trees in the background
Victoriapithecus is standing on a rock in the dark with a full moon in the background
Victoriapithecus ('Victoriapithecus macinnesi') was a primate that lived during the middle Miocene, approximately 15 to 17 million years ago, in Northern and Eastern Africa. Here are some key points about this fascinating ancient ape:

Discovery and Location

Victoriapithecus was discovered on Maboko Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Over 3,500 specimens have been found, making it one of the best-known fossil primates.

Physical Characteristics

Size: Victoriapithecus was the smallest known terrestrial anthropoid, weighing between 3 and 5 kg (6.6 to 11.0 lb).

Dental Formula: Its upper and lower dental formula was 2:1:2:3.

Molars: Unlike modern cercopithecids, which have bilophodont molars, Victoriapithecus had a more primitive molar structure and lacked the transverse distal loph.

Brain Complexity: Despite its small size, Victoriapithecus had a complex brain, suggesting that brain complexity evolved before larger brain size in early primates.

Olfactory Bulbs: It had large anteriorly projecting olfactory bulbs, serving as its primary source of olfactory detection.

Sagittal Crest: A well-developed sagittal crest indicated a dependence on heavy chewing.

Limbs: A divergent and opposable big toe allowed agility in tree climbing, but its limb morphology also supported terrestrial movement.

Sexual Dimorphism

Victoriapithecus exhibited sexual dimorphism in both overall size and canine size.
Males averaged 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb), while females were around 3 kg (6.6 lb).

Evolutionary Significance

Victoriapithecus predates the last common ancestor of extant colobine and cercopithecine monkeys.
Its features provide insights into early primate brain evolution and adaptations for both arboreal and terrestrial lifestyles.

In summary, Victoriapithecus represents an important link in primate evolution, shedding light on brain complexity, locomotion, and sensory adaptations in our distant past.

Example of the color palette for the image of Victoriapithecus

Picture with primary colors of Zinnwaldite, Gray-Tea Green, Rifle green, Dim gray and Pale spring bud
Top 5 color shades of the illustration. Arranged in descending order of frequency of occurrence (first - more often, last - more rare).
See these colors in NCS, PANTONE, RAL palettes...
NCS (Natural Color System)
NCS S 7005-G50Y
RAL Classic
RAL 8022
RAL 9007
RAL 6014
RAL 7005
RAL 1013
RAL Design
RAL 120 30 20
RAL 320 40 05
RAL 090 90 20
Author:

Where does the Victoriapithecus live?

Victoriapithecus in the snow looking up at the sky with snow falling on its back legs
Victoriapithecus with a very big mouth and a big smile on his face and chest
Big furry Victoriapithecus standing on a lush green field next to a lake and forest with a sun shining through the trees
Victoriapithecus was a primate that lived approximately 15 to 17 million years ago in Northern and Eastern Africa.
It is one of the best-known fossil primates, with over 3,500 specimens found on Maboko Island in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
This island was part of the mainland during the Miocene epoch, when Victoriapithecus inhabited a forested environment.

Victoriapithecus was a small monkey, weighing between 3 and 5 kg (6.6 and 11.0 lb).
It had a complex brain, despite its small size, and a well-developed sense of smell.
It also had a primitive molar structure, unlike modern cercopithecids, which suggests that it ate seeds and other hard foods.
Victoriapithecus was closely related to another extinct genus, Prohylobates, and both are considered to be sister taxa of the living subfamilies Colobinae and Cercopithecinae.

Victoriapithecus was named after the location of its discovery, Lake Victoria, and the Greek word for ape, -pithecus.
The only species in the genus is Victoriapithecus macinnesi, which was described by Gustav von Koenigswald in 1969.
The only complete skull of Victoriapithecus was found in 1997 and provided valuable insights into the evolution of complex brains in primates.

Example of the color palette for the image of Victoriapithecus

Picture with primary colors of Onyx, Asparagus, Army Green, Champagne and Fern green
Top 5 color shades of the illustration. Arranged in descending order of frequency of occurrence (first - more often, last - more rare).
See these colors in NCS, PANTONE, RAL palettes...
Author:

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The images you see on this page have been generated by AI - they are not real images of Victoriapithecus, but they are great nonetheless! :)
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