P roconsul

Abstract

Proconsul is considered the best‐known fossil ape from the early Miocene (ca. 23.0–16.0 million years ago (Ma)), documenting an early period of evolutionary diversification prior to the origin of modern lineages. Fossils attributed to this genus include nearly every element of the skeleton, demonstrating that this ape—unlike its modern successors—had pronograde posture and practiced above‐branch locomotion. However, certain features of its arms and legs suggest more modern ape‐like adaptations, as do its larger brain and slower dental development. Broadly conceived, Proconsul comprises six species. This taxonomic diversity has led some to divide its species into new genera. Ugandapithecus was established for the largest species, Proconsul major , and subsequently populated with new species defined by novel combinations of early Miocene Proconsul specimens as well as one middle Miocene species. Alternatively, the genus Ekembo was created for the two more derived species from Rusinga and Mfangano Islands, while keeping the other four species within Proconsul .