A novel species of ancient ape has been unearthed in Egypt, which experts believe to be the closest known relative to present-day gorillas, chimpanzees, and gibbons. This information was relayed by the New Scientist publication.
The species, Masripithecus moghraensis, existed approximately 17 million years ago, and its remains were recovered not in East Africa, but in North Africa. This discovery necessitates a shift in long-held theories regarding the precise location where the hominoid lineage underwent its evolution.
Dental remains and jaw fragments, retrieved during 2023–2024 from the Wadi Moghra site, belonged to two individuals, presumed to be males. Their size resembled that of a small female modern chimpanzee, with the creature’s estimated weight reaching 25 kilograms—heavier than most apes of that era.
The morphology of the teeth suggests a versatile diet: while fruit formed the bulk of their intake, Masripithecus was also capable of processing harder fare such as nuts and seeds. Without skeletal evidence from the limbs, it remains uncertain whether this ape was arboreal or terrestrial in its habits.
As paleontologist Erik Seiffert pointed out, researchers have spent decades primarily relying on discoveries made in East Africa. It is now apparent that the evolutionary narrative in North Africa took a distinctly different course.
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