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Fossil Primates from the Siwalik Beds near Haritalyangar, Himachal Pradesh, India

1962; Springer Science+Business Media; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.17491/jgsi/1962/030113

0974-6889

K. N. Prasad,

Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

Certain Primate fossils collected by the author from the Nagri beds at Haritalyangar are described in this paper. A left mandibular ramus with the associated dentition is assigned to a new species of Sivapithecus on the basis of certain specific characters. The great vertical depth of the jaw combined with a short symphysis is rather suggestive of a new species. The mandible has also been compared with other known Dryopithecinae from the Siwaliks of India as well as those from Africa, particularly with Proconsul major , a large ape from the Miocene of Kenya. The other moiety described includes a fragment of a mandible with two excellently preserved molars. Apart from their large size, the two molars do not show any significant differences from Sivapithecus indicus . It was undoubtedly a large ape next only in size to Dryopithecus giganteus . An isolated, narrow lower molar with high crowns recognised in the collection is referred to the genus Sugrivapithecus . Another lower molar, slightly squarish and much worn, is assigned to Sivapithecus . Sivapithecus is generally regarded as a highly evolved ape showing certain progressive characters, and Pilgrim attributed a high status for this genus. Other authorities considered the presence of a projecting canine and a seetorialised lower first premolar in addiltion to a simian shelf? as more apelike. Palaeontological evidence so far has not been conclusive and the whole problem now depends on collection of more material for further elucidation.