Dendropithecidae
The family Dendropithecidae is an extinct family of catarrhine apes. They date from the Early Miocene, around 20-12 million years ago.
Fossils of the two Dendropithecus species, Dendropithecus macinnesi and Dendropithecus ugandensis, have been found in East Africa, including several partial skeletons of Dendropithecus macinnesi on Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria. Other species are Simiolus andrewsi, Simiolus cheptumoae, Simiolus enjiessi. Micropithecus clarki and Micropithecus leakeyorum may not be part Dendropithecidae, and may be sister to the crown Catarrhini. The later Nyanzapithecinae appear to be sister to Simiolus.
Description
The taxa included in Dendropithecidae, possess the following traits:- Upper and lower canines strongly bilaterally compressed
- P3 moderately to strongly specialized for sectoriality
- Slender limb bones
- Humerus with a relatively straight shaft
- Medial epicondyle of the humerus is large and medially directed
- Epitrochlear fossa is well developed
- Zona conoidea is broad and shallow
- Trochlear articular surface exhibits minimal spooling
- Olecranon fossa is shallow