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Morotopithecus
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<p><i>Morotopithecus</i> is a genus of fossil <a href="/facts/Ape/QdTk4pko">ape</a> discovered in <a href="/facts/Miocene/cBRRzq4g">Miocene</a>-age deposits of <a href="/facts/Moroto_District/s0yKl3CW">Moroto</a>, <a href="/facts/Uganda/PabdegRm">Uganda</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Phylogeny/f5vVEpeY">phylogenetic</a> status of <i>Morotopithecus bishopi</i> is debated to the extent that it challenges established views on the connection between Miocene primates and extant <a href="/facts/Hominidae/ILn1SYKB">hominids</a> (i.e. <a href="/facts/Great_apes/ILn1SYKB">great apes</a>). <a href="/facts/Maximum_parsimony_(phylogenetics)/sxccmrfR">Parsimonious</a> phylogenetic analyses indicate <i>Morotopithecus</i> is more derived than <i><a href="/facts/Proconsul_(mammal)/jbFQW12h">Proconsul</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Afropithecus/MbWEoaR1">Afropithecus</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Kenyapithecus/KfgMVBT2">Kenyapithecus</a></i>, but less derived than <i><a href="/facts/Oreopithecus/Bbtjb6Av">Oreopithecus</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Sivapithecus/oNX6KTrM">Sivapithecus</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Dryopithecus/H8S3XtU7">Dryopithecus</a></i>. Under this arrangement, <i>Morotopithecus</i> would be a sister taxon to extant great apes while <i><a href="/facts/Hylobates/AeHEmgGI">Hylobates</a></i> (<a href="/facts/Gibbon/ArzDSTmr">gibbons</a>) seem to have branched off before this clade appeared. However, gibbons are believed to have branched off <a href="https://geoltime.github.io/?Ma=18">18</a> million years ago while <i>Morotopithecus</i> is dated to more than <a href="https://geoltime.github.io/?Ma=20.6">20.6</a> million years. </p><p>In a comparison of teeth characteristics of <i>Morotopithecus</i> to <i><a href="/facts/Afropithecus/MbWEoaR1">Afropithecus</a></i> the results showed little difference, plus evidence gathered from cranial comparisons also indicate that the two genera may be the same, a conclusion of limited confidence due to the lack of evidence to produce a complete anatomy for both (Patel, Grossman 2005). Meanwhile, Pickford (2002) referred the vertebrae to <i><a href="/facts/Ugandapithecus/XLwglEBB">Ugandapithecus</a></i>, and considered <i>Morotopithecus</i> synonymous with <i>Afropithecus</i>. </p><p>It appears to have lived in wooded <a href="/facts/Grassland/T4P1kqT0">grassland</a>, and had a diet dominated by leaves. </p>