Egyptian ape fossil dating back 17–18 million years challenges East African origins
Researchers have described Masripithecus moghraensis, a fossil ape found at Wadi Moghra in northern Egypt, from a lower jaw dating to about 17–18 million years ago. The study, published in Science, identifies it as the first definitive Early Miocene ape fossil from North Africa and finds it closer to living apes than any known ape of similar age from East Africa, challenging assumptions about where living apes originated.
Bottom line — The study points to northern Africa and the Middle East as a possible home of the common ancestor of living apes.
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The jaw preserves large canines and premolars, a robust structure and rounded, textured molars, according to ScienceDaily.
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Researchers interpret the teeth as evidence of a mainly fruit-based diet that could also handle harder foods such as nuts and seeds, ScienceDaily reports.
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The fossils were recovered during fieldwork in 2023 and 2024, according to Discover Magazine.
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The researchers combined anatomical evidence, DNA from living apes and fossil ages using Bayesian methods, ScienceDaily reports.
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Discover Magazine says the study’s biogeographic analysis points to northern Africa and the Middle East as the likely home of the common ancestor of living apes.
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The researchers say further exploration in North Africa and the Middle East may uncover fossils that clarify ape evolution, according to Discover Magazine.