Anatomy of the Bony Pelvis in Parapithecid Primates

Abstract

Four partial innominate bones, attributed to the parapithecid primates Parapithecus grangeri and Apidium phiomense, have recently been recovered from Oligocène deposits in the Fayum of Egypt. These fossils provide the first documentation of pelvic morphology for early anthropoids. In pelvic anatomy, parapithecids show definite similarities to higher primates rather than to prosimians, but cannot be clearly allied with any one extant group. Functionally, the fossils indicate quadrupedal or leaping habits rather than suspensory or bipedal behaviors.