The concensus view that Ramapithecus represents the earliest hominid has been challenged by new evidence from molecular studies and the discovery of fossils which include formerly unknown parts of the facial skeleton. The phylogenetic affinites of Ramapithecus have been debated since its initial description in the 1930s. Early discoveries of jaw fragments suggested that they chewed from side to side and had fairly short muzzles, both of which are humanoid features. These suggest that the “ramamorphs” may be more closely related to Pongo than to the African apes and hominids. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Ramapithecus räməpəthē´kəs, –pĭth´ə– [ key], former name for an extinct group of primates that lived from about 12 to 14 million years ago, for a time regarded as a possible ancestor of Australopithecus and, therefore, of modern humans. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Any one of the species in this genus may have been the ancestor to … Fossil remains of ramapithecines have been found in India and Pakistan, the Near East, and East Africa. Fossils of Ramapithecus were discovered in N India and in E Africa, beginning in 1932. The concensus view that Ramapitheeus represents the earliest hominid has been challenged by new evidence from molecular studies and the discovery of fossils which include formerly unknown parts of the facial skeleton. Copyright © 1982 Published by Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0047-2484(82)80108-5. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. ScienceDirect ® is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V. The implications of this interpretation of the Miocene hominoids requires re-evaluation of certain previous assumptions about pongid and hominid evolution. Fossil remains of animals now assigned to this genus, dated from 12.2 million years old in the Miocene, have been found since the 19th century in the Siwalik Hills in the Indian Subcontinent. Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Copyright © 1982 Published by Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0047-2484(82)80108-5. The implications of this interpretation of the Miocene hominoids requires re-evaluation of certain previous assumptions about pongid and hominid evolution. The concensus view that Ramapithecus represents the earliest hominid has been challenged by new evidence from molecular studies and the discovery of fossils which include formerly unknown parts of the facial skeleton. Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. Ramapithecus is a genus of extinct apes. The concensus view that Ramapithecus represents the earliest hominid has been challenged by new evidence from molecular studies and the discovery of fossils which include formerly unknown parts of the facial skeleton. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. The phylogenetic affinites of Ramapithecus have been debated since its initial description in the 1930s. Ramapithecus A genus of extinct primates that lived about 12–14 million years ago. These suggest that the “ramamorphs” may be more closely related to Pongo than to the African apes and hominids. Ramctpithecus and Hominoid Evolution The phylogenetic affinities of Ramapithecus have been debated since its initial description in the 1930s. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. These suggest that the “ramamorphs” may be more closely related to Pongo than to the African apes and hominids.