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Equatorius; Temporal range: Miocene 15.58–15.36 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Infraorder:	Simiiformes
Superfamily:	Hominoidea
Family:	incertae sedis
Genus:	†Equatorius; Ward et al. 1999
Type species
	†Equatorius africanus; Ward et al. 1999

Equatorius is an extinct genus of kenyapithecine primate found in central Kenya at the Tugen Hills.^[1] Thirty-eight large teeth belonging to this middle Miocene hominid in addition to a mandibular and partially complete skeleton dated 15.58 Ma and 15.36 Ma. were later found.^[2]

Analysis

The anatomical structures in part was seen to be similar to Afropithecus and Proconsul. Nevertheless, anatomy and morphology suggested the genus had an increased terrestrial habitat.^[3]

Taxonomy

Ward et al. 1999, using their previous published study of K.africanus, based the separate definition on comparisons of gnathic and dental anatomy.^[4] The classification's validity was subsequently challenged.^[5]

Notes

^ Ward et al. 1999
^ Kelley et al. 2002
^ Sherwood et al. 2002
^ Ward & Duren 2002, Begun 2000
^ See McCrossin & Benefit's comment in Begun 2000

References

Begun, David R. (March 2000). "Technical Comments: Middle Miocene Hominoid Origins". Science. 287 (5462): 2375. doi:10.1126/science.287.5462.2375a.
Kelley, J; Ward, S; Brown, B; Hill, A; Duren, DL (Jan–Feb 2002). "Dental remains of Equatorius africanus from Kipsaramon, Tugen Hills, Baringo District, Kenya". J Hum Evol. 42 (1–2): 39–62. Bibcode:2002JHumE..42...39K. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0504. PMID 11795967.
Sherwood, RJ; Ward, S; Hill, A; Duren, DL; Brown, B; Downs, W (Jan–Feb 2002). "Preliminary description of the Equatorius africanus partial skeleton (KNM-TH 28860) from Kipsaramon, Tugen Hills, Baringo District, Kenya". J Hum Evol. 42 (1–2): 63–73. Bibcode:2002JHumE..42...63S. doi:10.1006/jhev.2001.0502. PMID 11795968.
Ward, Steven C.; Duren, Dana L. (2002). "Middle and late Miocene African hominoids". In Hartwig, Walter (ed.). The Primate Fossil Record. Cambridge University Press. Bibcode:2002prfr.book.....H. ISBN 9780521663151.
Ward, Steve; Brown, Barbara; Hill, Andrew; Kelley, Jay; Downs, Will (August 1999). "Equatorius: A New Hominoid Genus from the Middle Miocene of Kenya". Science. 285 (5432): 1382–1386. doi:10.1126/science.285.5432.1382. PMID 10464093.