As we have seen above (vol. i., p. 110) the earliest Lemuroids appeared in
the Lower Eocene division of the Tertiary period in the New World, and in
the Old World in its upper strata; they continued during the whole of the
Eocene in the Western Hemisphere, and are last seen in the Lower Miocene of
North America.
Fossil Apes, on the other hand, appear first in South America, in the Santa
Cruz beds of Patagonia, in strata of Upper Eocene or Oligocene age. In the
Old World they come on the scene only during the tropical ages of the
Miocene epoch. When the middle and upper strata of the latter period were
being deposited in Europe, Anthropoid Apes ranged from the Mediterranean
shores to further north than the present northern limit of the Old World
Apes.
In the Pliocene age _Anthropoidea_ were living in Southern Asia, around
where the Sivalik hills now stand, and in Southern Europe, as at Pikermi
and Samos, being represented almost entirely by species of still existing
genera, and one living species--the Orang. Chimpanzees had already then
become differentiated, and perhaps Man had even appeared, though the
evidence is not sufficiently conclusive.
In the Pleistocene, remains of many still living species have been brought
to light both in the New and the Old Worlds, and unmistakable osseous
remains, as well as abundant evidences {210}of his handiwork, prove the
existence of Man at that remote epoch.
FAMILY HAPALIDÆ (Vol. I., p. 129).
GENUS HAPALE (_op. cit._, p. 131).
Of this genus abundant remains of two species have been found in many of
the Brazilian caverns of Pleistocene or recent age. These have been
referred to two species: HAPALE GRANDIS (Lund), and the still-living H.
JACCHUS (Linn.; cf. Vol. I., p. 132).
FAMILY CEBIDÆ (Vol. I., p. 150).