18-million-year-old ape fossil from Egypt challenges East African origins of apes. Mosropythecus (Afkinsharythecus alashari) is an 18 million year old Early Miocene ape fossil discovered in Egypt The fossil is a jaw with robust anatomy, large canines, and molars with rounded, heavily textured chewing surfaces suggesting a flexible fruit-based diet Phylogenetic analysis places this fossil closer to the root of living ape radiation than any previously known ape from this time period

Researchers discovered a new Early Miocene ape from Egypt ~18 million years ago — sitting closer to the root of living ape radiation than any previously known fossil from this era, challenging the East Africa-centric view of early ape evolution.

Key facts claimed:

- Masripithecus is an 18 million year old Early Miocene ape fossil discovered in Egypt

- The fossil is a jaw with robust anatomy, large canines, and molars with rounded, heavily textured chewing surfaces suggesting a flexible fruit-based diet

- Phylogenetic analysis places this fossil closer to the root of living ape radiation than any previously known ape from this time period

- Researchers used tip dating methodology integrating fossil age directly into evolutionary tree analysis

- The study suggests a northern Afro-Arabian setting may better explain the divergence point of crown Hominoidea rather than East Africa

Key Facts

  • Mosropythecus (Afkinsharythecus alashari) is an 18 million year old Early Miocene ape fossil discovered in Egypt
  • The fossil is a jaw with robust anatomy, large canines, and molars with rounded, heavily textured chewing surfaces suggesting a flexible fruit-based diet
  • Phylogenetic analysis places this fossil closer to the root of living ape radiation than any previously known ape from this time period
  • Researchers used tip dating methodology integrating fossil age directly into evolutionary tree analysis
  • The study suggests a northern Afro-Arabian setting may better explain the divergence point of crown Hominoidea rather than East Africa
  • The site of Wadi Magra was part of a lush forest corridor with river systems and estuaries during the Early Miocene, not the desert it is today

Related site: Wadi Maghareh - Turquoise mine. — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.

Source: 18 million year old Common Ancestor is from Egypt, not East Africa by Timeless with Fred Snyder