Mesopithecus
Encyclopedia
Mesopithecus is an extinct genus of Old World monkey
that lived in Europe and western Asia 7 to 5 million years ago. It was once thought that it might be an ancestor of the grey langur, but a more recent study suggests that they are more closely related to the snub-nosed monkey
s and douc
s.
Mesopithecus resembled a modern macaque
, with a body length of about 40 centimetres (15.7 in). It was adapted to both walking and climbing, possessing a slender body
with long, muscular limbs and flexible finger
s. Its teeth suggest that it primarily ate soft leaves and fruit.
Old World monkey
The Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in the clade Catarrhini. The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savanna, shrubland and mountainous...
that lived in Europe and western Asia 7 to 5 million years ago. It was once thought that it might be an ancestor of the grey langur, but a more recent study suggests that they are more closely related to the snub-nosed monkey
Snub-nosed monkey
Snub-nosed monkeys are a group of Old World monkeys and make up the entirety of the genus Rhinopithecus. The genus occurs rarely and needs much more research...
s and douc
Douc
The doucs or douc langurs make up the genus Pygathrix, which consists of these 3 species:*Red-shanked douc, Pygathrix nemaeus*Black-shanked douc, Pygathrix nigripes*Gray-shanked douc, Pygathrix cinerea...
s.
Mesopithecus resembled a modern macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
, with a body length of about 40 centimetres (15.7 in). It was adapted to both walking and climbing, possessing a slender body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
with long, muscular limbs and flexible finger
Finger
A finger is a limb of the human body and a type of digit, an organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates....
s. Its teeth suggest that it primarily ate soft leaves and fruit.