Sivapithecus

E672052

Sivapithecus is an extinct genus of Miocene apes from South Asia that is considered closely related to, and possibly ancestral to, modern orangutans.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
Indopithecus 1
Sivapithecus indicus group 1

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Miocene primate
extinct genus
fossil taxon
prehistoric ape
bodySize similar to modern chimpanzee
closelyRelatedTo orangutan
continent Asia
cranialMorphology concave face
narrow interorbital distance
orangutan-like face
oval orbits
prognathic jaws
dentition low-cusped molars
thick enamel
diet frugivorous
primarily fruit
disputedAs direct ancestor of modern orangutans
estimatedBodyMass approximately 30–40 kilograms
family Hominidae NERFINISHED
firstDescribedBy Richard Lydekker NERFINISHED
firstDescribedInYear 1879
fossilsFoundIn India NERFINISHED
Pakistan NERFINISHED
Siwalik Hills NERFINISHED
foundIn Indian subcontinent NERFINISHED
South Asia NERFINISHED
geologicalAge approximately 12.5–8.5 million years ago
habitat forested environments
woodland habitats
hasSpecies Sivapithecus indicus NERFINISHED
Sivapithecus parvada NERFINISHED
Sivapithecus sivalensis NERFINISHED
knownFrom cranial fossils
mandibular fossils
postcranial remains
livedDuring Late Miocene
Middle Miocene
locomotion arboreal
quadrupedal
namedAfter Sivalik Hills NERFINISHED
originallyNamed Sivapithecus sivalensis NERFINISHED
phylogeneticPosition stem member of orangutan lineage
possibleAncestorOf orangutan
postcranialMorphology less specialized for suspensory locomotion than orangutans
relatedTo Pongo NERFINISHED
significance important for understanding great ape evolution
key taxon for orangutan ancestry debates
subfamily Ponginae NERFINISHED
taxonRank genus
temporalRange Miocene
typeSpecies Sivapithecus sivalensis NERFINISHED

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ponginae hasExtinctGenera Sivapithecus
Ponginae hasExtinctGenera Sivapithecus
this entity surface form: Indopithecus
Ponginae hasExtinctGenera Sivapithecus
this entity surface form: Sivapithecus indicus group
Hominoidea includesExtinctTaxon Sivapithecus