Mesopropithecus

Skull of Mesopropithecus globiceps

Mesopropithecus is an extinct primate species from the group of Palaeopropithecinae. She lived until about 500 years on the island of Madagascar.

Like all Palaeopropithecinae had Mesopropithecus greatly extended front limbs and other anatomical features that indicate a similar suspensorische ( downward hanging on the trees ) lifestyle the sloths. The structure of the skull resembled that of Sifakas, but was significantly greater. It is estimated the weight of the animals to around ten kilograms.

Probably also the living and locomotion of Mesopropithecus was characterized by slow, ponderous movements. The food was probably mainly of leaves.

There are three types:

• From Mesopropithecus globiceps subfossil remains have been found in central Madagascar.
• Mesopropithecus pithecoides was slightly larger and lived in the central and western Madagascar.
• Mesopropithecus dolichobrachion was not discovered until the mid- 1990s.

The extinction of these animals is likely causally related to the colonization of Madagascar are the people who only began around 1500 years ago. Following this, a number of primate species have disappeared, including the giant lemurs. The reasons for this were the hunting and habitat destruction, possibly coupled with climatic changes. Mesopropithecus was the smallest of the extinct genera and could have lived until about 500 years.