Final answer:
During the Miocene, hominoids, such as Proconsul and Sivapithecus, were found in Africa and Asia, with hominids starting to adapt to a ground-based existence by the late Miocene.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Miocene epoch, which spans from approximately 23 to 5 million years ago, hominoids were predominantly found geographically in Africa. Notable examples include the genus Proconsul, which lived in Africa between 23 to 14 million years ago, and lacked long curved digits and a tail, leading to the conclusion that they are early apes rather than monkeys. Similarly, the genus Sivapithecus from the Miocene is most commonly found in fossils throughout Asia, with significant findings in Turkey. These hominoids had skulls with a striking resemblance to that of the modern orangutan, with thick dental enamel suggesting a diet of hard foods.
The fossil evidence suggests that hominoids during the Miocene were adapting to a variety of environments. Additionally, by the late Miocene (10 to 5 million years ago), the first hominid fossils appear, indicating that hominids began to adapt to ground-based living niches, moving out of trees during this time. However, it's worth noting that fossils from this period are sparse, yet ongoing discoveries continue to enhance our understanding of their geographic distribution.