Khoratpithecus
Name:
Khoratpithecus
(Khorat ape).
Phonetic: Ko-rat-pif-e-kus.
Named By: Y. Chaimanee, V. Suteethorn, P.
Jintasakul, C. Vidthayanon, B. Marandat & J. J.
Jaeger - 2004.
Synonyms: Lufengpithecus chiangmuanensis.
Classification: Chordata, Mammalia, Primates,
Hominidae, Ponginae.
Species: K. piriyai (type),
K.
ayeyarwadyensis, K. chiangmuanensis.
Diet: Herbivore.
Size: Unavailable.
Known locations: Myanmar, Thailand.
Time period: Tortonian of the Miocene.
Fossil representation: Mostly teeth, but mandible
(lower jaw) fragments are also known.
Although
not a very well-known prehistoric ape, Khoratpithecus
has been
regarded as being intermediate in form between Sivapithecus
and the
modern day genus Pongo, better known as the orangutan. For this
reason there has been suggestion that Khoratpithecus
might actually be
the direct ancestor of orangutans.
The
species Khoratpithecus chiangmuanensis was
established from fossil
remains that were previously assigned to Lufengpithecus,
itself
considered to be closely related to Sivapithecus.
Further reading
- A new orang-utan relative
from the Late Miocene of Thailand. - Nature 427:439-441. - Y.
Chaimanee, V. Suteethorn, P. Jintasakul, C. Vidthayanon, B. Marandat
& J.-J. Jaeger - 2004.
- First Hominoid from the Late Miocene of
the Irrawaddy Formation (Myanmar). PLoS One 6(4):1-14. - J.-J. Jaeger,
A. N. Soe, O. Chavasseau, P. Coster, E.-G. Emonet, F. Guy, R. Lebrun,
A. A. Maung, H. Shwe, S. T. Tun, K. L. Oo, M. Rugbumrung, H. Bocherens,
M. Benammi, K. Chaivanich, P. Tafforeau & Y. Chaimanee - 2011
Random favourites
 |
 |
 |