Proconsul
Group Placental mammals
Date Early Miocene
Size 65 cm long
Location Kenya
Proconsul was the size of a modern baboon or gibbon, and was the first fossil anthropoid (monkey-like primate) to be found in Africa. It was positioned close to where the Old World monkeys, Proconsul had thin tooth enamel, a narrow chest, short fort forelimbs, and a light build. This tells us that it was primarily a tree-dweller, living on soft fruits. However, Proconsul also shared some similarities with apes, having a large brain, ape-like elbows, and no tail.
Evolving intelligence
Proconsul had a slightly larger brain relative to its body size, which suggests evolving intelligence.