https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajpa.24884
28 March 2023

Abstract
Objectives
Fossils from the Fayum Depression, Egypt, are
crucial for understanding anthropoid evolution
due to the abundance of taxa and the time
interval they represent (late Eocene to early
Oligocene). Dietary and foraging behavioral
interpretations suggest fruits were their
dominant food source, although hard foods
(e.g., seeds and nuts) and leaves could have
been important dietary components for particular
groups. In this study, we compare dental
chipping patterns in five Fayum primate genera
with chipping data for extant primates, to
assess potential hard object feeding in early
anthropoids.

Materials and Methods
Original specimens were studied (Aegyptopithecus:
n = 100 teeth; Parapithecus: n = 72, Propliopithecus:
n = 99, Apidium: n = 82; Catopithecus: n = 68); with
the number, severity, and position of chips
recorded. Dental caries was also recorded, due to
its association with soft fruit consumption in
extant primates.

Results
Tooth chipping was low across all five genera
studied, with a pooled chipping prevalence of 5%
(21/421). When split into the three anthropoid
families represented, chipping prevalence ranged
from 2.6% (4/154) in Parapithecidae, 6% (12/199)
in Propliopithecidae, and 7.4% (5/68) in
Oligopithecidae. Three carious lesions were
identified in Propliopithecidae.

Discussion
The chipping prevalence is low when compared to
extant anthropoids (range from 4% to 40%) and
is consistent with a predominantly soft fruit
diet, but not with habitual hard food
mastication. The presence of caries supports
consumption of soft, sugary fruits, at least in
Propliopithecidae. Our results add support for
low dietary diversity in early anthropoids,
with soft fruits as likely dominant food
sources.