Microcolobus

Microcolobus Temporal range: Late Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Primates
Suborder:	Haplorhini
Family:	Cercopithecidae
Subfamily:	Colobinae
Genus:	†Microcolobus Benefit & Pickford, 1986
Species:	†M. tugenensis
Binomial name
†Microcolobus tugenensis Benefit & Pickford, 1986

Microcolobus is an extinct genus of Old world monkey that lived in eastern Africa during the Late Miocene and is regarded as the first known member of the Colobinae.

Taxonomy

Microcolobus was described in 1986 from remains that were found in the Tugen Hills in Kenya and have been dated to between 10.5 and 8.5 million years ago. Fossils of this species (or a close relative) have also been found in Nakali. Primitive characteristics shared with the extinct Mesopithecus of Asia suggest a close phyletic relationship between the two.

Description

Microcolobus was a small species of monkey, estimated at only 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb) in weight. It had more primitive characteristics than modern colobines such as having lower molar cusps and more crushing surfaces on the premolars. Its small size and less developed shearing crests suggest that it would have been less folivorous than modern colobines. While postracinal elements indicate it was likely arboreal, it does not have the reduced thumb seen in living relatives.