- Early fossil finds of Dryopithecus (first definite discovery in 1856) were mainly teeth. Today we have a cranium and many leg bones as well. This has not only increased our subject knowledge about Dryopithecus but also has helped to scientifically check earlier conclusions. Dryopithecus is considered to be a common ancestor of both man and modern apes.
- On the basis of earlier evidences it was believed that Dryopithecus survived from middle to the end of the Miocene period.
- Y-5 cusp pattern on his 3rd molar indicates that he was ancestor of both man and modern apes. His other body features are also similar to modern apes.
- His three species i.e. Africanus, Major and Sivalensis must have given rise to three modern great apes of today that is Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Orang.
- Recent evidences however indicates that D. sivalensis showed absolute similarities with Ramapithecus and therefore the two has been clubbed on to a new genus Sivapithecus. His first lower premolar is sectorial that separates him from later hominids.
- In 1948 Mary Leaky found a preserved cranium which was named Proconsul but now it is considered as a member of Dryopithecus africanus.
- In comparison to present day apes, his jaws, teeth and muscles were similar and many features of his skull resemble monkeys.
- Recently walker studied his skull and estimated the weight of D. africanus to be 26 pounds whereas other anthropologists consider it to be slightly heavier i.e. approx. 33 pounds.
Dryopithecus: Important Facts
- Time span : 23m to 8m years ago.
- Arboreal habitat- both rain forests and more open areas.
- Size variable, from gibbon to gorilla.
- Large teeth, interlocking canines, Diastema.
- Y-5 Cusp Pattern.
- Limbs- mixed characteristics of both apes and monkeys.
- Indication of ape simian shelf.
- Not modified for knuckle walking.
- Evolutionary status- possible ancestor of chimpanzee, gorilla and man.
- Geographical distribution – Africa, Asia and some parts of Europe.
- Walker and Tifford estimated its cranial capacity to be about 167 c.c. According to this, in proportion to body size the brain size of africanus was more than that of monkeys.
- On the basis of presence of frontal sinus, it can be concluded that he was related to man and African apes.
- Post-cranial fossils of Dryopithecus found in the last decade show that the many characteristics of his limbs resemble that of modern apes and monkeys. On the basis of the study of these parts it is concluded that africanus was slow walking animal and lived on trees and his limbs were not modified for Brachiation and climbing.