US EditionFossils of New Ancient Ape Species Discovered in Egypt
- On March 26, 2026, researchers published findings in Science describing Masripithecus moghraensis, a new ape species discovered in northern Egypt's Wadi Moghra that lived around 17 million to 18 million years ago.
- Scientists previously assumed modern apes evolved in East Africa, but this discovery suggests their ancestors may have originated further north in the Afro-Arabian landmass during the Early Miocene epoch.
- Paleontologist Shorouq Al-Ashqar of Mansoura University, Egypt, found jawbone and molar specimens in 2023 and 2024. Analysis places Masripithecus on the ancestral line of all living apes, just before the split between great apes and gibbons.
- While some experts urge caution due to incomplete fossils, David Alba of the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Paleontology noted the finding aligns with broader evolutionary evidence about ape migration patterns.
- Further exploration across North Africa, including Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, could help resolve 'huge blind spots' in early ape evolution, according to paleontologist James Rossie of Stony Brook University.
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37 Articles
A fossil of ape found in northern Egypt transforms the understanding of the early evolution of hominoids (anthropomorphic primates without tail).The discovery belongs to researchers of the Center of Vertebrates Paleontology of Mansoura University (MUVP).The finding appeared in Science magazine.The data suggest that the close ancestors of modern apes emerged in North Africa.This area is located outside the traditional study regions in the east of…
Science Daily
ecotopical.comScientists say we’ve been looking in the wrong place for human origins
A fossil ape discovered in northern Egypt is reshaping the story of human evolution. The species, Masripithecus, lived about 17 to 18 million years ago and may sit very close to the ancestor of all modern apes. This finding challenges the long-standing focus on East Africa. Instead, it points to northern Africa and nearby regions as a possible birthplace of apes.
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