New fossils of Mesopithecus from Hasnot, Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Paleoprimatology
• Vertebrate Paleontology
• Primate Evolution

Background:

• The colobine monkey Mesopithecus was a widespread primate genus during the late Miocene.
• Previous discoveries in the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan, have been tentatively assigned to Mesopithecus sivalensis.
• Understanding primate dispersal and adaptation during the late Miocene is crucial for evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and classify a new collection of colobine monkey molars from the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan.
• To compare these new fossils with known Mesopithecus species and extant Asian colobines.
• To determine the taxonomic assignment of the Hasnot colobine fossils and understand their paleoecological significance.

Main Methods:

• Morphological and metrical comparisons of fossil molars with extant and extinct colobine taxa.
• Dating of fossil localities using stratigraphic context, constrained between 7.9 and 7.1 million years ago.
• Analysis of distinctive dental features, particularly lower third molars.

Main Results:

• A new collection of isolated molars attributed to cf. Mesopithecus sp. was recovered from three late Miocene localities near Hasnot, Pakistan.
• The Hasnot specimens are morphologically distinct from Mesopithecus pentelicus, particularly in the features of their lower third molars.
• A definitive comparison with Mesopithecus sivalensis is pending further detailed description of previously recovered specimens.

Conclusions:

• The Hasnot colobine fossils represent a likely new species or subspecies of Mesopithecus, distinct from M. pentelicus.
• Mesopithecus demonstrated successful adaptation to seasonal woodland environments and rapid dispersal during the late Miocene.
• These findings contribute to understanding primate responses to significant climatic and environmental changes in South Asia.