Nacholapithecus

Nacholapithecus
Temporal range: middle Miocene
"Nacholapithecus kerioi" at the Kyoto University Museum
Nacholapithecus kerioi at the Kyoto University Museum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Proconsulidae
Genus: Nacholapithecus
Ishida, Kunimatsu, Nakatsukasa & Nakano, 1999
Species
  • Nacholapithecus kerioi Ishida et al., 1999

Nacholapithecus kerioi was an ape that lived 14-15 million years ago[1] during the Middle Miocene. Fossils have been found in the Nachola formation in northern Kenya. The only member of the genus Nacholapithecus, it is thought to be a key genus in early hominid evolution. Similar in body plan to Proconsul, it had a long vertebral column with six lumbar vertebrae, no tail, a narrow torso, large upper limbs with mobile shoulder joints, and long feet.[2]

Together with other Kenyapithecinae such as Equatorius, Kenyapithecus, and Griphopithecus, Nacholapithecus displayed synapomorphies with Anoiapithecus.[3]