Dryopithecus is an extinct species of monkey that lived in what is now Africa about 20 million years ago. It was one of the largest representatives of the pongid family and reached a height of up to 1 meter and a weight of up to 60 kg.
Dryopithecus were covered with thick fur, which protected them from cold and heat. Their teeth were adapted for chewing tough foods such as nuts and fruits. They also had long arms and legs, which allowed them to easily move through trees and climb rocks.
One of the most famous species of Dryopithecus was Dryopithecus brancoi, which was discovered in 1958 in Ethiopia. His skeleton was found in Tabun Cave near the city of Addis Ababa. This species of Dryopithecus had very long arms and fingers that could be used to capture and hold prey.
Scientists believe that Dryopithecus was one of the first monkeys to use tools to obtain food. They could use sticks and stones to crack nuts or break tree branches. This allowed them to expand their diet and get more nutrients.
However, Dryopithecus could not survive climate change and extinction. Their disappearance occurred about 1.5 million years ago, when people came to Africa.
Dryopithecus is an extinct species of monkey that lived in Africa between 23 and 7 million years ago. These apes were among the most ancient representatives of their genus and shared many features with modern apes.
Dryopithecus were quite large monkeys, their height reached 1.5 meters and their weight was 50-80 kilograms. Their body was covered with thick fur, the color of which varied from brown to black. They also had long arms and legs, allowing them to climb trees and jump long distances.
One of the most famous species of Dryopithecus was Dryopithecus brancoi, which lived about 7 million years ago in East Africa. It was one of the first monkey species to develop frontal lobes of the brain, suggesting that it may have had intelligence.
Even though Dryopithecus is extinct, its remains are still found in Africa, allowing scientists to study its anatomy and evolution. In addition, studying Dryopithecus helps to understand how apes developed and what factors influenced their evolution.