Question

In the Miocene, which of the following is true of African primate communities?

a. Numerically dominated by cercophitecoids
b. Numerically dominated by platyrrhines
c. Numerically dominated by hominoids
d. Balanced between hominoids and cercopitchecids

Answer 1

In the Miocene epoch, African primate communities were numerically dominated by hominoids, including species like Proconsul and Sivapithecus. New World monkeys, or platyrrhines, were not present in Africa at this time. Hominoids were the primary component of the primate populations, as evidenced by the fossil record.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Miocene epoch, African primate communities were numerically dominated by hominoids, as indicated by the fossil record of the time. The Miocene marks an important period when we see a variety of ape species, including some of the earliest such as Proconsul africanus africanus and Sivapithecus. These early apes lacked characteristics found in modern-day apes, like long, curved digits for brachiation, and their teeth shared the same dental formula observed in Old World monkeys and apes, including humans (2.1.2.3). Meanwhile, New World monkeys, or platyrrhines, were not found in Africa—they had already become geographically separated, occupying Central and South America. Also, the Cercopithecoidea (Old World monkeys), while present, did not dominate the primate population as the hominoids did during this time.