Theropithecus

In today's world, Theropithecus has become a topic of great importance and interest to a wide variety of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its relevance in the professional field or its influence on popular culture, Theropithecus has positioned itself as a fundamental point of reference today. As time progresses, the importance of Theropithecus continues to grow, making a detailed analysis of its various facets and its relevance in different contexts indispensable. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the meaning and implications of Theropithecus, as well as its impact on different aspects of contemporary life.

Genus of Old World monkeys

Theropithecus Temporal range: Pliocene-Recent 4.1–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Male gelada
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Subfamily:	Cercopithecinae
Tribe:	Papionini
Genus:	Theropithecus I. Geoffroy, 1843
Type species
Theropithecus gelada (Rüppell, 1835)
Species
See text

Theropithecus is a genus of primates in the family Cercopithecidae. It contains a single living species, the gelada (Theropithecus gelada), native to the Ethiopian Highlands.

Additional species are known from fossils, including:

• †Theropithecus brumpti^[1][2]
• †Theropithecus darti
• †Theropithecus oswaldi^[3]

The earliest remains probably belonging to the genus are from Kanapoi, Kenya, dating to the early Pliocene, around 4.1-4.2 million years ago.^[2]

Although most remains are known from Africa,^[2] during the Early Pleistocene the genus had a broader distribution ranging from southern Europe, including Spain^[4] and possibly Italy,^[5] to the Indian subcontinent.^[6]

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. ^ ^{a b c} Getahun, D. A., Delson, E., & Seyoum, C. M. (2023). A review of Theropithecus oswaldi with the proposal of a new subspecies. Journal of human evolution, 180, 103373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103373
3. ^ "The Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 11 August 2013.
4. ^ Ferràndez-Cañadell, Carles; Ribot, Francesc; Gibert, Lluís (September 2014). "New fossil teeth of Theropithecus oswaldi (Cercopithecoidea) from the Early Pleistocene at Cueva Victoria (SE Spain)". Journal of Human Evolution. 74: 55–66. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.02.020.
5. ^ Patel, Biren A.; Gilbert, Christopher C.; Ericson, Kristin E. (February 2007). "Cercopithecoid cervical vertebral morphology and implications for the presence of Theropithecus in early Pleistocene Europe". Journal of Human Evolution. 52 (2): 113–129. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.07.014.
6. ^ Patnaik, Rajeev; Cerling, Thure E.; Uno, Kevin T.; Fleagle, John G. (April 2014). "Diet and Habitat of Siwalik Primates Indopithecus, Sivaladapis and Theropithecus". Annales Zoologici Fennici. 51 (1–2): 123–142. doi:10.5735/086.051.0214. ISSN 0003-455X.