Cercopithecidae, Gray, 1821

Herries, AIR, Menter, CG & Adams, JW, 2015, First description of in situ primate and faunal remains from the Plio-Pleistocene Drimolen Makondo palaeocave infill, Gauteng, South Africa, Palaeontologia Electronica (Basel, Switzerland) 28 (6), pp. 1-21 : 7

Cercopithecidae gen. et sp. indet.

Referred specimens. DNM 10, two articulating left mandibular canine fragments; DNM 53-1 – 53-3, articulating femoral diaphyseal fragments; DNM 265, proximal phalanx; DNM 313-1 – 313-8, long bone diaphyseal fragments (provisional); DNM 492-1, left first metacarpal; DNM 492-2, left second metacarpal; DNM 492-3, left third metacarpal.

Description. A small collection of primate specimens could represent either a papionin or, given the recovery of Cercopithecoides craniodental remains, a large colobine. The DNM 10 left mandibular canine preserves the crown with a distinct wear facet for the maxillary canine. The femoral diaphyseal fragments (DNM 53-1 – 53-3) preserves the linea aspera and parts of both supracondylar ridges just proximal to the distal metaphyseal region. Specimens DNM 53-1 and 53- 2 have small diameter (<2 mm) pits that may reflect perimortem carnivore damage. The DNM 265 complete proximal phalanx preserves a curved diaphysis with strong flexor tendon sheaths extending nearly the entire length of the ventral diaphysis. Specimens DNM 313-1 – 313-8 are a series of indeterminate long bone diaphyseal fragments that match the DNM 53 specimens in size, cortical thickness, and curvature and may represent parts of the same and/or antimeric femur. These specimens were found in close association with the DNM 53 specimens, but are not independently diagnostic. We consider their attribution as cercopithecid elements as provisional, but probable given their morphology and spatial context.

The last group, DNM 492-1 – 492-3, represents the partial left manus of an indeterminate cercopithecid in semi-articulation. Specimen DNM 492-1 is a complete first metacarpal. DNM 492-2 is comprised of a proximal articular surface with a small amount of diaphysis present and a distal articular surface. These two fragments do not directly articulate, as there is missing diaphysis; however, both pieces are consistent with being from a left metacarpal II and are most likely from the same element. Metacarpal III (DNM 492-3) is a complete element broken in two portions, with a proximal articular surface and shaft complete to the distal metaphysis, and the separate distal articular surface. The partial manus is smaller than that of extant Papio ursinus and could represent either a papionin or large colobine (e.g., Cercopithecoides ).