Sivapithecus fossil map
Where fossils of Sivapithecus 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 | 15.98–5.333 million years ago (Langhian to Messinian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Hominidae |
| Named by | Pilgrim 1910 |
| Fossil records | 32 occurrences at 10 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Kenya, India, Pakistan, China, Türkiye, Nepal |
| Rock formations | txn:40899, Maboko, Chinji, Dhok Pathan, Upper Koru Series |
About Sivapithecus
Sivapithecus (lit. 'Shiva's Ape') (syn: Ramapithecus) is a genus of extinct apes. Fossil remains of animals now assigned to this genus, dated from 12.2 million years old in the Miocene, have been found since the 19th century in the Sivalik Hills of the Indian subcontinent as well as in Kutch. Any one of the species in this genus may have been the ancestor to the modern orangutans.
Some early discoveries were given the separate names Ramapithecus (Rama's Ape) and Bramapithecus (Brahma's Ape), and were thought to be possible ancestors of humans.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Sivapithecus (revision 1355177356), 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: Q132950.
