Pierolapithecus fossil map
Where fossils of Pierolapithecus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 15 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 12.75–11.1 million years ago (Serravallian to Tortonian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Hominidae |
| Named by | Moyà-Solà et al. 2004 |
| Fossil records | 2 occurrences at 1 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Spain |
| Rock formations | txn:40899 |
About Pierolapithecus
Pierolapithecus catalaunicus is an extinct species of ape that lived during the Middle Miocene, about 13–12.5 million years ago, in Catalonia, Spain. Described in 2004 from a partial skeleton discovered near Els Hostalets de Pierola, it is represented by one of the most complete Miocene ape skeletons from Europe.
Pierolapithecus combined primitive features with orthograde adaptations, while lacking the elongated fingers characteristic of modern suspensory apes. Its anatomy has made it important in debates on the early evolution of great apes and the origins of orthograde locomotion. Its phylogenetic position remains disputed: some researchers regard Pierolapithecus as a basal member of Hominidae close to the common ancestor of living great apes, while others place it among the pongines or European Dryopithecini.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Pierolapithecus (revision 1368825215), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q21446402.
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