View source for Anoiapithecus

{{short description|Extinct genus of ape from the Miocene}}
{{Speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|12}}<small>[[Miocene]]</small>
| image =
| image_caption = 
| display_parents = 3
| genus = Anoiapithecus
| parent_authority = Moyà-Solà ''et al''., 2009
| species = brevirostris
| authority = Moyà-Solà ''et al''., 2009
}}

'''''Anoiapithecus''''' is an [[extinct]] [[ape]] [[genus]] thought to be closely related to ''[[Dryopithecus]]''.  Both genera lived during the [[Miocene]], approximately 12 million years ago. Fossil specimens [[Author citation (zoology)|named]] by [[Salvador Moyà-Solà]] are known from the deposits from [[Spain]].<ref name="Moyà-Solà et al., 2009">{{Cite journal |last1=Moyà-Solà |first1=S. |last2=Albab |first2=David M. |last3=Almécija |first3=Sergio |last4=Casanovas-Vilar |first4=I |last5=Köhler |first5=M |last6=De Esteban-Trivigno |first6=S |last7=Robles |first7=JM |last8=Galindo |first8=J |last9=Fortuny |first9=J |year=2009 |title=A unique Middle Miocene European hominoid and the origins of the great ape and human clade |journal=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|PNAS]] |volume=106 |issue=24 |pages=9601–9606 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0811730106 |pmid=19487676 |pmc=2701031 |bibcode=2009PNAS..106.9601M |doi-access=free }}.</ref>

The discoverers described '''''Anoiapithecus brevirostris''''' as a [[hominoid]] (superfamily [[Hominoidea]]) in the [[dryopithecine]] tribe. They believe that it has more modern [[Phenotypic trait|trait]]s than the Kenyapithecines from which Kenya's ''[[Kenyapithecus wickeri]]'' brings fragmentary information. The African [[Biological specimen|specimens]] are considered a sister taxon to the hominids, and 2 million years younger European specimens must be from the time after these two groups split. This means that hominids may have evolved in Europe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Did first hominids live in Europe? |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227116.000-did-first-hominids-live-in-europe.html |work=New Scientist |page=17 |date=6 June 2009 }}</ref>

The name comes from the [[Anoia River]] region in [[Catalonia]], where the fossil was found. It has been given the nickname ''Lluc'' (since it is a male individual). The name Lluc is the Catalan form of Luke, which in Latin suggests "light", as this discovery enlighted our early evolution.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Researchers from the Institut Catala de Paleontologia describe a new hominid |publisher= EurekAlert! |date=June 2009 | accessdate = 9 September 2019 |url= http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/uadb-rft060209.php}}</ref>

The modern anatomical features that characterized the family [[Hominidae]] visible in Lluc's fossil among others are: unique facial pattern for hominoids, nasal aperture wide at the base, high [[zygomatic bone|cheek bone]], and deep palate.<ref name="Moyà-Solà et al., 2009" />

==See also==
{{div col}}
* {{annotated link|Chororapithecus|''Chororapithecus''}}
* {{annotated link|Nakalipithecus|''Nakalipithecus''}}
* {{annotated link|Pierolapithecus|''Pierolapithecus''}}
* {{annotated link|Samburupithecus|''Samburupithecus''}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Haplorhini|Ho.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q134825}}
[[Category:Dryopithecini]]
[[Category:Prehistoric apes]]
[[Category:Miocene primates of Europe]]
[[Category:Fossil taxa described in 2009]]
[[Category:Fossils of Spain]]
[[Category:Prehistoric primate genera]]