Hadropithecus

Hadropithecus, live reconstruction

Hadropithecus is an extinct primate species that lived on the island of Madagascar until about 1000 years ago. The only kind described is Hadropithecus stenognathus. Together with the also extinct Archaeolemur he forms the group of Archaeolemurinae.

Hadropithecus was a relatively large, probably mainly on the ground of living primate. He reached an estimated weight of over 20 kg, the skull was 13 to 14 inches long. The arms and legs were short and strong, his hands and feet paws similar to the snout was shortened remarkably. The molars and premolars the rear formed a distinct occlusal surface, and in return the upper incisors and the typical wet nose monkeys tooth comb were regressed. Probably Hadropithecus lived in the open grasslands and fed on grasses and roots, similar to today's Dschelada, an otherwise little-known primates living.

Hadropithecus is known from several localities, which are dated to 2000-1000 years. Your extinction was probably directly related to the human occupation of their home island 1500 years ago. As part of this settlement are a number of large animals, presumably extinct primate species as well as the giant lemurs because of hunting and habitat destruction.