Equatorius

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

Equatorius
Temporal range: Miocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Superfamily: Hominoidea
Family: incertae sedis
Genus: †Equatorius
Ward et al. 1999
Type species
†Equatorius africanus

Analysis

The anatomical structures in part was seen to be similar to 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 2000
  5. See McCrossin & Benefit's comment in Begun 2000

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 (ed.). The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. Bibcode:2002prfr.book.....H. 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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