Kamoyapithecus
Encyclopedia
Kamoyapithecus was a primate that lived in Africa
during the late Oligocene
period, about 24.2-27.5 million years ago. First found in 1948 as part of a University of California, Berkeley
expedition, it was at first thought to be under a form of Proconsul by C.T. Madden in 1980, but after a re-examination by Richard Leakey
and associates later on, the fossils were moved under a new genus Kamoyapithecus, named after the renowned fossil finder Kamoya Kimeu
. The genus is represented by only one species, K. hamiltoni.
s. The type specimen, KNM-LS 7, was a right maxilla
ry jaw fragment found during the expedition in 1948. Through this fossil as well as more recent fragments of mandible
s and teeth, it has been found that Kamoyapithecus had very large and robust anterior teeth. The incisor
s are found to be compressed on the sides, but expanded from top to bottom.
Its teeth also have been found through plane film X-ray
to not be thickly enamel
led. This suggests that Kamoyapithecus had more emphasis on foods that did not involve heavy wearing, such as soft fruits, nuts and seeds. This would have been well-placed in the Late-Oligocene in Africa, when forests covered a lot of the land.
Similar affinities with the jaw fragments have been seen with Afropithecus
, Proconsul, and the Morotopithecus
, but nothing definitive can be stated as to the relationship between these genera and Kamoyapithecus as the amount of fossil record is very limited. This variation of traits that are expressed within the fragments also makes it difficult to ascertain exactly where Kamoyapithecus fits in the evolution of humans.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
during the late Oligocene
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
period, about 24.2-27.5 million years ago. First found in 1948 as part of a University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
expedition, it was at first thought to be under a form of Proconsul by C.T. Madden in 1980, but after a re-examination by Richard Leakey
Richard Leakey
Richard Erskine Frere Leakey is a politician, paleoanthropologist and conservationist. He is second of the three sons of the archaeologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey, and is the younger brother of Colin Leakey...
and associates later on, the fossils were moved under a new genus Kamoyapithecus, named after the renowned fossil finder Kamoya Kimeu
Kamoya Kimeu
Kamoya Kimeu, is one of the world's most successful fossil collectors who, together with paleontologists Meave Leakey and Richard Leakey, is responsible for some of the most significant paleoanthropological discoveries...
. The genus is represented by only one species, K. hamiltoni.
Morphology
Kamoyapithecus is known exclusively by its teeth and jawJaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
s. The type specimen, KNM-LS 7, was a right maxilla
Maxilla
The maxilla is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. This is similar to the mandible , which is also a fusion of two halves at the mental symphysis. Sometimes The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper...
ry jaw fragment found during the expedition in 1948. Through this fossil as well as more recent fragments of mandible
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
s and teeth, it has been found that Kamoyapithecus had very large and robust anterior teeth. The incisor
Incisor
Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and mandible below.-Function:...
s are found to be compressed on the sides, but expanded from top to bottom.
Its teeth also have been found through plane film X-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
to not be thickly enamel
Tooth enamel
Tooth enamel, along with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp is one of the four major tissues that make up the tooth in vertebrates. It is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance in the human body. Tooth enamel is also found in the dermal denticles of sharks...
led. This suggests that Kamoyapithecus had more emphasis on foods that did not involve heavy wearing, such as soft fruits, nuts and seeds. This would have been well-placed in the Late-Oligocene in Africa, when forests covered a lot of the land.
Similar affinities with the jaw fragments have been seen with Afropithecus
Afropithecus
Afropithecus turkanensis, a new Miocene hominoid, was excavated from a small site near Lake Turkana called Kalodirr in northern Kenya in 1986 and was named by Richard Leakey and Meave Leakey...
, Proconsul, and the Morotopithecus
Morotopithecus
Morotopithecus bishopi is a species of fossil ape discovered in Moroto, Uganda.The phylogenetic status of Morotopithecus bishopi is debated to the extent that it challenges established views on the connection between Miocene primates and extant hominids...
, but nothing definitive can be stated as to the relationship between these genera and Kamoyapithecus as the amount of fossil record is very limited. This variation of traits that are expressed within the fragments also makes it difficult to ascertain exactly where Kamoyapithecus fits in the evolution of humans.