Mohanamico Hershkovitzi

''Mohanamico'' is an extinct genus of New World monkeys from the Middle Miocene (Laventan in the South American land mammal ages; 13.8 to 11.8 million years ago-Mya). Its remains have been found at the Konzentrat-Lagerstätte of La Venta in the Honda Group of Colombia. The type species is ''M. hershkovitzi''. Due to the relatively few material found of ''Mohanamico'', the placement of the genus is not certain and four possible families have been proposed by different authors, Atelidae, Callitrichidae, Pitheciidae or Aotidae.

Etymology

''Mohanamico hershkovitzi'' is named after the river god Mohan of the Magdalena River, in which valley the fossils were found and to honor Philip Hershkovitz for his contributions to the study of Colombian and other South American primates.Luchterhand et al., 1986, p.1757

Description

Fossils of ''Mohanamico'' were discovered in the "Monkey Beds" of the Honda Group that has been dated to the Laventan, about 12.5 Mya.Wheeler, 2010, p.133 ''Mohanamico'' was about the size of the living squirrel monkey ''Saimiri sciureus''. Its molars are low-crowned and the molar crests are not pronounced, suggesting a frugivorous diet like '' Aotus''. The lateral incisor is large and high-crowned, which foreshadows living Pitheciidae. The canines and P2 were large and sharp like ''Callimico''. Analysis of the mandible and teeth suggests that ''Mohanamico'' is a primitive member of the Pitheciidae. Some similarities with ''Callimico'' and ''Saguinus'' are also noted, raising the possibility that pithecines and callitrichids are monophyletic.Luchterhand et al., 1986, p.1753

The estimated weight of ''Mohanamico'' was ,Silvestro, 2017, p.14 similar in size to ''Aotus dindensis'' found in the same location.Gebo et al., 1990, p.738 The Argentinian genus ''Homunculus'' had smaller molars than ''Mohanamico''.Luchterhand et al., 1986, p.1756

Some authors place ''Mohanamico'' in the Callitrichidae,Tejedor, 2013, p.29 possibly related to the ''Callimico'' clade, based especially on its taller incisors and canines, large p2, and broader and longer trigonid in proportion to the talonid.Pérez et al., 2013, p.4 Other authors dispute this and consider the genus more likely a Pitheciidae,Wheeler, 2010, p.134 or possibly an Aotidae.Takai et al., 2001, p.303 It is also shown to be a stem atelid. If placed within the Pitheciidae, the primate would be at the base of the evolutionary radiation because of the large incisors and the structure of its canines and premolars.Defler, 2004, p.33

Habitat

The Honda Group, and more precisely the "Monkey Beds", are the richest site for fossil primates in South America.Rosenberger & Hartwig, 2001, p.3 It has been argued that the monkeys of the Honda Group were living in habitat that was in contact with the Amazon and Orinoco Basins, and that La Venta itself was probably seasonally dry forest.Lynch Alfaro et al., 2015, p.520 From the same level as where ''Mohanamico'' has been found, fossils of '' Cebupithecia'', ''Micodon'', ''Saimiri annectens'', ''Saimiri fieldsi'', and '' Stirtonia'' also have been uncovered.Setoguchi et al., 1986, p.762 From the same location, a fossil specimen of the fish tambaqui (''Colossoma macropomum'') was recovered.

See also

* List of primates of Colombia
* ''Canaanimico''
* ''Lagonimico''
* ''Patasola''

References

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q10331497

Monotypic prehistoric primate genera
Prehistoric monkeys
Miocene genus first appearances
Miocene extinctions
Miocene primates of South America
Laventan
Neogene Colombia
Fossils of Colombia
Honda Group, Colombia
Fossil taxa described in 1986