Proteopithecidae is an extinct family of primates which lived in the Priabonian (late Eocene) and probably early Oligocene periods. Fossils that have been found are in the Jebel Qatrani Formation in Egypt. Currently two genera are recognised, each with a single species, those being Proteopithecus sylviae and Serapia eocaena.[2]
Proteopithecus sylviae is unusual in having a large degree of sexual dimorphism of the canine teeth, which is unknown in extant primates of a similar (relatively small) size. It was arboreal, probably diurnal, probably with a diet of fruit and insects. It weighed around 250 grams.[3] It was the first Eocene anthropoid for which postcranial remains were found. The hindlimbs are similar to those of platyrrhines and indicates an animal that would do a considerable amount of running and pronograde (four limbed) leaping.[4]
^Simons, E. L. (1997). "Preliminary description of the cranium of Proteopithecus sylviae, an Egyptian late Eocene anthropoidean primate". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 94 (26): 14970–14975. Bibcode:1997PNAS...9414970S. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.26.14970. PMC 25147. PMID 9405723.
^Seiffert, Erik & Simons, Elwyn & Fleagle, John & Godinot, Marc. (2010). Paleogene Anthropoids. pages 369-392. In 'Cenozoic Mammals of Africa' (editors Lars Wardelin and William Sanders) University of California Press 6 August 2010 ISBN 978-0520257214
^Simons, Elwyn L; Plavcan, J Michael; Fleagle, John G (March 1999). "Canine sexual dimorphism in Egyptian Eocene anthropoid primates: Catopithecus and Proteopithecus". PNAS. 96 (5): 2559–2562. Bibcode:1999PNAS...96.2559S. doi:10.1073/pnas.96.5.2559. PMC 26824. PMID 10051682.
^Simons, Elwyn L; Seiffert, Erik R (December 1999). "A Partial Skeleton of Proteopithecus sylviae (Primates, Anthropoidea): First Associated Dental and Postcranial Remains of an Eocene Anthropoidean". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Série IIA. 329 (12): 921–927. Bibcode:1999CRASE.329..921S. doi:10.1016/S1251-8050(00)88506-7.
Proteopithecidae is an extinct family of primates which lived in the Priabonian (late Eocene) and probably early Oligocene periods. Fossils that have been...
Eosimiidae as a sister to the crown haplorhini. In 2020 papers, the Proteopithecidae are part of the Parapithecoidea, and Nosmips aenigmaticus (previously...
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