suapith

Suapith is a species of extinct orangutan that lived in the Malay archipelago, which includes present-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The name Suapith was first used by paleontologist Erik Strasser in 2006 to describe a specimen of fossilized orangutan remains found in the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Phylogenetic analysis of the fossilized specimen suggested that Suapith was a distinct genus within the Ponginae subfamily, which also includes the modern orangutans. The analysis indicated that Suapith diverged from its closest relatives, including the Parvu genus, around 3-4 million years ago, during the late Miocene epoch.

Physical characteristics of Suapith were similar to those of modern orangutans, with robust arms and legs, a flat face, and prominent dental structure. The fossilized remains also suggested that Suapith had a more primitive form of rib cage compared to modern orangutans. The discovery of Suapith provides valuable insights into the evolution and history of orangutan species.

Additional fossilized remains of Suapith have also been discovered in other parts of the Malay archipelago, which suggests that Suapith was likely a widespread and diverse species. Its extinction is thought to have been a result of environmental changes and habitat loss, which are factors that contributed to the decline of many other ancient primate species. Further research on Suapith and its fossilized remains is necessary to fully understand its evolutionary history and its place within the tree of life.