Fossil discovery in Egypt reshapes understanding of ape origins

The findings, published March 26, 2026, in the journal *Science*, are the result of a collaborative effort between the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (Egypt) and the University of Southern California (USA). Researchers believe this discovery indicates that northern Africa and the Middle East may have played a pivotal role in the emergence of the lineage that ultimately led to all living apes.

For decades, the prevailing scientific view held that early ape evolution was primarily concentrated in eastern and southern Africa. While fossil monkeys from the Early Miocene have been found in North Africa, definitive ape fossils were missing, creating a gap in the evolutionary record.

“We spent five years searching for this kind of fossil because, when we look closely at the early ape family tree, it becomes clear that something is missing -- and North Africa holds that missing piece,” explained Hesham Sallam, a paleontologist at Mansoura University and senior author of the study.

The fossils, recovered during expeditions in 2023 and 2024, consist primarily of lower jaw material, yet reveal a unique combination of anatomical features. The species name, Masripithecus moghraensis, combines the Arabic name for Egypt (Masr) with the Greek word for ape (píthēkos), and honors the Wadi Moghra site where they were found.

The jaw exhibits exceptional sturdiness and possesses remarkably large canine and premolar teeth, along with molars featuring pronounced textures on their chewing surfaces. These features suggest the animal consumed a flexible diet, primarily fruit but also capable of processing tougher foods.

“Together, they suggest that Masripithecus was adapted for versatility,” said Shorouq Al-Ashqar, a researcher at the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center. “The study interprets its chewing anatomy as evidence of a flexible, mainly fruit-based diet, with the ability to process harder foods such as nuts or seeds when needed.”

Analysis of the fossil’s placement on the evolutionary tree revealed a surprising connection: Masripithecus is more closely related to living apes than any previously known ape species from the Early Miocene in East Africa. Researchers utilized advanced statistical methods and combined anatomical data with genetic evidence to reconstruct these relationships.

This challenges the long-held assumption that the evolutionary roots of all living apes were centered in East Africa, suggesting instead that northern Africa and the Middle East may have been a crucial center for ape diversification. Geological shifts and fluctuating sea levels likely facilitated the movement of animals between Africa and Eurasia during this period.

The discovery connects previously disparate fossil records and suggests that apes were evolving into distinct forms in this region before expanding into Europe and Asia.