Khoratpithecus Explained

Khoratpithecus is an extinct genus of pongin primates that lived during the Late Miocene (7–9 million years ago) in Myanmar and Thailand. Three species belong to this genus:

• Khoratpithecus chiangmuanensis from Thailand (Chaimanee, Jolly, Benammi, Tafforeau, Duzer, Moussa & Jaeger, 2003) (formerly Lufengpithecus chiangmuanensis)
• Khoratpithecus piriyai from Thailand Chaimanee, Suteethorn, Jintasakul, Vidthayanon, Marandat & Jaeger, 2004
• Khoratpithecus ayeyarwadyensis from Myanmar Jaeger, Soe, Chavasseau, Coster, Emonet, Guy, Lebrun, Maung, Shwe, Tun, Oo, Rugbumrung, Bocherens, Benammi, Chaivanich, Tafforeau & Chaimanee, 2011

Palaeobiology

Stable isotopic analysis consisting of paired δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O measurements shows that K. ayeyarwadyensis inhabited the treetops of highly forested habitats and fed exclusively on C₃ vegetation.^[1] Dental microwear and dental topography both indicate that Khoratpithecus was frugivorous, preferring soft fruits over seeds and hard fruits.^[2]

See also

• Lufengpithecus
• Griphopithecus
• Sivapithecus

Notes and References

1. Habinger . S. G. . Chavasseau . O. . Jaeger . J.-J. . Chaimanee . Y. . Soe . A. N. . Sein . C. . Bocherens . H. . 12 July 2022 . Evolutionary ecology of Miocene hominoid primates in Southeast Asia . . en . 12 . 1 . 10.1038/s41598-022-15574-z . 2045-2322 . 9276763 . 35821257 . 19 August 2025.
2. Merceron . Gildas . Taylor . Sarah . Scott . Robert . Chaimanee . Yaowalak . Jaeger . Jean-Jacques . 8 April 2006 . Dietary characterization of the hominoid Khoratpithecus (Miocene of Thailand): evidence from dental topographic and microwear texture analyses . . en . 93 . 7 . 329–333 . 10.1007/s00114-006-0107-0 . 0028-1042 . 20 January 2026 . Springer Nature Link. subscription .