Biology:Dionysopithecidae

From HandWiki
Short description: Extinct family of primates

Dionysopithecidae
Temporal range: Early Miocene–Pliocene
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Parvorder: Catarrhini
Superfamily: Pliopithecoidea
Family: Dionysopithecidae
Genera
  • Dionysopithecus
  • Platodontopithecus

Dionysopithecidae is an extinct family of fossil catarrhines and the earliest-known and most primitive members of the Pliopithecoidea superfamily, with fossils in Sihong in China dating to 18–17 million years ago for species Dionysopithecus shuangouensis and Platodontopithecus jianghuaiensis.[1]

A single lower molar found in Ban San Klang in Thailand is similar to those found in Sihong but sufficiently different to be considered a different species, Dionysopithecus orientalis.[1]

They are sometimes treated as a subfamily of Pliopithecidae as 'Dionysopithecinae'.[2]

References

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Prehistoric World page 434.

Wikidata ☰ Q21220687 entry