Question

Write a note on Ramapithecus.

Answer 1

Answer:

Ramapithecus is an extinct group of primates that lived about 12 to 14 million years ago,

• Ramapithecus was thought to be a distinct species for a time in the 1960s and 70s that was the first direct ancestor of modern humans also called as Homo sapiens before it was recognized as that of the orangutan ancestor Sivapithecus.
• In 1932, in fossil deposits in the Sivalik hills of northern India, the first Ramapithecus fossils the fragments of an upper jaw and some teeth were found. Incisors and canine are found to be positioned horizontally and not in a slightly procumbent role as in primates. The dental arcade is complete and no canine diastema exists.

Answer 2

Answer:

(1) Ramapithecus was on direct line of evolution of man.

(2) It was called an ape-man like primate.

(3) Its fossils were obtained in the form of teeth and jaw bones in the rocks of Siwalik Hills in India by Lewis and also in Kenya.

(4) lt existed during late Miocene and early Pliocene epoch about 14 to 12 milion years ago.

(5) It walked erect on its hind limbs.

(6) It had close similarily with chimpanzee.

(7) Some scientists believe that Dryopithecus evolved into Ramapthecus.