Victoriapithecus

views updated

Victoriapithecus The earliest known member of the Cercopithecoidea. Together with a related, more poorly known genus, Prohylobates, it is now placed in a family, Victoriapithecidae, separate from advanced Old World monkeys. So far, the family is known only from E. and N. Africa. The biphilodonty characteristic of Old World monkeys is only partially developed in Victoriapithecidae and in other respects, too, they are very primitive.

More From encyclopedia.com