FEMORAL ANATOMY OF AEGYPTOPITHECUS-ZEUXIS, AN EARLY OLIGOCENE ANTHROPOID

Three partial femora from Quarries I and M of the early Oligocene Jebe l Qatrani Formation in the Fayum of Egypt are attributed to Aegyptopit hecus zeuxis on the basis of their appropriate size and anthropoid mor phology. Compared with extant catarrhines, Aegyptopithecus is unusual in having a distinct gluteal tuberosity (third trochanter) and a relat ively deep distal femoral articulation. In the estimated neck angle, A egyptopithecus resembles arboreal quadrupeds rather than either leapin g or suspensory primates. It seems likely that the femur of this speci es was relatively robust and short for its body mass. In aspects of it s femoral anatomy, Aegyptopithecus is quite different from the parapit hecid Apidium and more similar to Catopithecus from late Eocene deposi ts of the Fayum, and also to small hominoids from the Miocene of East Africa. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.