A partial skeleton of Proteopithecus sylviae (Primates, Anthropoidea): first associated dental and postcranial remains of an Eocene anthropoidean

Recent excavation in the Late Eocene quarry L-41 (Fayum Depression, Egypt) revealed two tibiae and a femur in direct association with a mandible of Pr oteopithecus sylviae, arguably the most generalized African anthropoidean k nown from cranial remains. This discovery represents the first association of dental and postcranial material belonging to an Eocene anthropoidean, an d provides new insights into the functional anatomy and phylogenetic positi on of Proteopithecus. The hindlimb morphology of Proteopithecus is most sim ilar to small-bodied platyrrhines among living and extinct primates and is consistent with a locomotor repertoire that included a considerable amount of running and pronograde leaping. In certain dental and postcranial featur es, Proteopithecus differs from the other Fayum anthropoideans and shows a greater resemblance to living and extinct platyrrhines, but it is unclear w hether these features are of particular phylogenetic significance. ((C) 199 9 Academie des sciences / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. ).