'''''Paradolichopithecus''''' is an [[Extinction|extinct]] [[genus]] of [[Old World monkey|cercopithecine monkey]] once found throughout [[Eurasia]]. The [[type species]], ''P. arvernensis'', was a very large [[monkey]], [[Comparability|comparable]] in [[size]] to a [[mandrill]]. The genus was most closely related to [[macaque]]s, sharing a very similar [[Skull|cranial]] [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]].<ref>Nishimura, TD.;(2010). ''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17261326 Nasal anatomy of Paradolichopithecus gansuensis (early Pleistocene, Longdan, China) with comments on phyletic relationships among the species of this genus]''</ref> The [[Fossil|fossils]] attributed to ''Paradolichopithecus'' are [[Knowledge|known]] from the Early [[Pliocene]] to the [[Early Pleistocene]] of Europe (France, Spain, Greece, Romania, and Serbia) and Asia (TadjikistanTajikistan and China).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Radović |first1=Predrag |last2=Lindal |first2=Joshua |last3=Marković |first3=Zoran |last4=Alaburić |first4=Sanja |last5=Roksandic |first5=Mirjana |date=December 2019 |title=First record of a fossil monkey (Primates, Cercopithecidae) from the Late Pliocene of Serbia |url=https://linkinghubwww.elseviersciencedirect.com/retrievescience/article/pii/S0047248419301873 |journal=[[Journal of Human Evolution]] |language=en |volume=137 |pagesarticle-number=102681 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.102681 |pmid=31629290 |bibcode=2019JHumE.13702681R |s2cid=204799618|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Radović |first1=Predrag |last2=Marković |first2=Zoran |last3=Alaburić |first3=Sanja |last4=Roksandic |first4=Mirjana |date=23 October 2024 |title=A new papionin molar (Primates, Cercopithecidae) from the Pliocene of Serbia |journal=[[PalZ]] |volume=98 |issue=4 |pages=637–646 |language=en |doi=10.1007/s12542-024-00703-y |issn=0031-0220 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The East Asian fossil genus ''Procynocephalus'' is considered by some to represent a [[senior synonym]] of ''Paradolichopithecus.''<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kostopoulos|first1=Dimitris S.|last2=Guy|first2=Franck|last3=Kynigopoulou|first3=Zoi|last4=Koufos|first4=George D.|last5=Valentin|first5=Xavier|last6=Merceron|first6=Gildas|date=August 2018|title=A 2Ma old baboon-like monkey from Northern Greece and new evidence to support the Paradolichopithecus – Procynocephalus synonymy (Primates: Cercopithecidae)|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0047248416301932|journal=Journal of Human Evolution|language=en|volume=121|pages=178–192|doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.02.012|pmid=29779686|bibcode=2018JHumE.121..178K |s2cid=29167579 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Description ==
''Paradolichopithecus'' was a [[Terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] monkey generally believed to have developed a large body size as a response to predator pressure, estimated to be similar in [[weight]] to the 31kg mandrill (~31 kg). Despite its close relation to macaques, it also shared a number of postcranial features with [[Baboon|baboons]]. Its [[Ankle joint|ankle joints]] also show a remarkable similarity with that of the [[Hominidae|hominid]] ''[[Australopithecus]]'', and it has led to the idea that ''Paradolichopithecus'' may frequently have moved in a [[Bipedalism|bipedal]] [[Stances (positioning)|stance]]. The [[Limb (anatomy)|limbs]] of this genus were [[robust]] with prominent areas of muscular attachment, notably found on the [[humerus]] which had a length of 22.5cm5 cm. The [[Radius (bone)|radius]] of this [[Biological specimen|specimen]] was longer than the humerus as seen in the mandrill, measuring 25.2cm2 cm, although it was also broader in structure than current mandrills and baboons.<ref>Van Der Greer, A. A. E.; (2002) ''[http://users.uoa.gr/~geeraae/publications/2002-agph-Paradolichopithecus.pdf The postcranial elements of Paradolichopithecus arvernensis (Primates, Cercopithecidae, Papionini) from Lesvos, Greece]''</ref>
A fossil of this primate shows the [[talus bone]] having features much more alike [[Australopithecus|Australopithecinesaustralopithecines]] than modern baboons or chimpanzees, such as [[shape]] and placement, although some features are similar to bipedally trained [[Japanese macaque|Japanese macaques]]. The distal [[tibia]] found also has a distinctly more massive and square [[malleolus]], differing from macaques or baboons and again showing a similarity to hominins. The morphology and [[width]] of the tibia shows that this primate had specific weight-bearing adaptations for terrestrial [[Locomotion in mammals|locomotion]]. The proximal humerus found in this site has a deep and wide attachment groove for the [[biceps]] along with a larger articulation area on the head, which relates to the increased mobility possible for the [[elbow]] joint found.<ref>{{Cite journal|lastlast1=Y. Sondaar|firstfirst1=Paul|last2=Van der Geer|first2=Alexandra|date=January 2006|title=The unique postcranial of the Old World monkey Paradolichopithecus: more similar to Australopithecus than to baboons|url=http://users.uoa.gr/~geeraae/publications/2006-HJG-Paradolichopithecus.pdf|journal=Hellenic Journal of Geosciences|volume=1|pages=19-2819–28|via=http://users.uoa.gr/ }}</ref>
