Theropithecus brumpti

Theropithecus brumpti was a large terrestrial monkey that lived in the mid to late Pliocene. It is an extinct species of papionin.

Theropithecus brumpti
Temporal range: 3.3–2 Ma
↓
Pliocene
Skull of T. brumpti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Theropithecus
Species:
T. brumpti
Binomial name
Theropithecus brumpti
Arambourg, 1947

This fossil primate is mostly known from skulls and mandibles found in Pliocene deposits excavated in the Shungura Formation, at the Omo River, Ethiopia. Both T. brumpti, and its cousin, the extant gelada (T. gelada), were related to the baboon.[1]

Appearance
Skull

Similar to most other such animals, T. brumpti was quadrupedal with highly dexterous, manipulative hands. Males grew very large, as evidenced by a specimen found at Lomekwi, Kenya, which was estimated to have weighed approximately 43.8 kilograms.[2] (In comparison, the male gelada averages around 20 kilograms [3]). In addition, the male was most likely very colorful, with the female smaller and less colorful; the species displayed a high degree of sexual dimorphism.[2] Like most papionins, the male possessed large canine teeth, primarily for display.[1]

Diet

Theropithecus brumpti was most likely a folivore.[2] Large muscles in the long muzzle suggest T. brumpti ate tough vegetation, and was capable of breaking and eating large nuts.[1]

Habitat

This species was largely terrestrial, with the size of adult males making any significant arboreal lifestyle unlikely. From the locations of T. brumpti finds, the species lived in riverine forest habitats.[2]

References
  1. Turner, Alan; Antón,Mauricio (2004). Evolving Eden, An Illustrated Guide to the Evolution of the African Large-Mammal Fauna. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 55.
  2. Jablonski, Nina G.; Leakey, Meave G.; Klarey, Christopher; Antón, Mauricio (December 2002). "A New Skeleton of Theropithecus brumpti (Primates: Cercopithecidae) from Lomekwi, West Turkana, Kenya". Journal of Human Evolution. 43 (6): 887–923. doi:10.1006/jhev.2002.0607. PMID 12473488.
  3. Hiller, C. (2000). ""Theropithecus gelada" (On-line)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
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