Ramapithecus
Introduction
- Believed to be earliest hominid
- Based on new and latest evidences accepted as fossil Ape
- Found in India, Pakistan, Europe, China, Greece, Hungary
- Existed between 14 to 9 million yeas ago in Miocene
- 1934 Edward Lewis in Shiwalik hills
- Simons in 1964 analysed the specimen and gave the name Ramapithacus punjabicus.
- Found in Shiwalik hills in India and Fort Ternan in Kenya
Physical Characteristics
- Teeth jaw and small portion of lower jaw found
- Reverse dental pattern ie front teeth bigger while back teeth smaller
- Relatively small incisors and canines
- Canines equal in level to incisors
- Molar crowns were parallel sided
- Premolar amd molar had thick enamel curved dental arcade
Adptations to Open grassland
- Hand and finger preparation of food
- Frequent us of tools
- Upright posture
- Bipedal locomotion
- Wide field of vision
Ramapithacus and early Hominid- differences
- Dental arcade of ramapithacus as well as Dryopithacus have divergent pattern and does not curve inward towards the back
- Lower front pre-molar is semi sectorial ie intermediate between sectorial premolar of Dryopithacus and non sectoral tricuspid premolar of later hominid.
Cultural features
- Neither the post cranial skeleton nor adequate tools of antiquity been found
- New dietry source – nuts, seeds and grasses away from ape diet of forest fruits and vegetables
Taxonomic issue
- As part of Miocene radiation complex
- Not as distict line of Dryopithacus but leading to greater ape line
- Leading to hominid
- Smaller than Shivapithacus and included in it.
