Ramapithecus: With its jaw fragments discovered in India

With its jaw fragments discovered in India and Kenya, scientists once believed Ramapithecus was a bipedal ape walking the path toward Homo sapiens. For decades, it appeared in textbooks and documentaries as “the missing link” between apes and humans. But as science evolved, so did the story. Learn about the characteristics and evolution of primates, including early primates and their fossil record. Find out about Ramapithecus , a Miocene hominoid from Siwaliks, and its features and classification. Talking of India’s earliest inhabitants, one cannot miss mentioning the fossils of the chimp-like, tree-dwelling primates who roamed the Indian sub-continent 12.3 million years ago - Sivapithecus and Ramapithecus . Initially discovered in the 1930s in the Siwaliks of India, Ramapithecus was thought to be an early human ancestor due to dental and facial features. However, its classification remains controversial, with some considering it a small-faced ape. Despite limited fossil evidence, Ramapithecus is recognized for its small canines, thick molar enamel, and parabolic dental arcade, traits that suggest a closer relationship to hominids than pongids. Its widespread geographical distribution indicates ...