Exam 8: Overview of the Fossil Primates

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Pliopithecoids and Oligocene Catarrhines are both extinct groups of primates that lived during the Oligocene epoch, approximately 34 to 23 million years ago. However, there are several differences and similarities between the two groups.

One of the main differences between Pliopithecoids and Oligocene Catarrhines is their taxonomic classification. Pliopithecoids belong to the family Pliopithecidae, while Oligocene Catarrhines belong to the infraorder Catarrhini, which includes modern Old World monkeys and apes.

In terms of similarities, both Pliopithecoids and Oligocene Catarrhines were arboreal primates, meaning they lived in trees. They also likely had similar diets, consisting of fruits, leaves, and possibly insects.

Another difference between the two groups is their geographic distribution. Pliopithecoids are primarily known from Europe, while Oligocene Catarrhines are found in Africa, Europe, and Asia. This difference in distribution may indicate different evolutionary histories and adaptations to their respective environments.

Additionally, there are differences in their dental morphology. Pliopithecoids had more primitive dental features, while Oligocene Catarrhines had more specialized dental adaptations, such as the presence of bilophodont molars, which are characteristic of Old World monkeys and apes.

Overall, while both Pliopithecoids and Oligocene Catarrhines were early primates that lived during the Oligocene epoch, they had distinct differences in their taxonomic classification, geographic distribution, and dental morphology, as well as similarities in their arboreal lifestyle and likely diet.