An Early Ape Specialist
In the lush, tropical forests of Early Miocene Kenya, about 18 million years ago, lived Rangwapithecus gordoni, an early ape with a particular palate. Weighing around 15 kilograms (33 pounds), this primate was an accomplished leaf-eater, or folivore. Its powerful jaw and specialized teeth were adapted for shearing and grinding tough plant matter, a dietary focus that distinguishes it from many of its fruit-eating contemporaries, like the well-known Proconsul.
The evidence for its diet comes directly from its dental anatomy. The molar teeth of Rangwapithecus possess well-developed shearing crests, which are sharp ridges ideal for slicing fibrous leaves. This anatomical detail, preserved in fossils found at sites like Songhor and Rusinga Island, demonstrates that early apes were more than generalists. Instead, they were already exploring and adapting to specific ecological roles. Rangwapithecus carved out a niche for itself by consuming leaves, a food source that was abundant but required specialized dental hardware to process efficiently. This dietary path placed it within the Nyanzapithecinae subfamily, a group of early apes known for their folivorous tendencies.