Fig. 166.—Skeleton of Mesopithecus.
The Apes made their appearance at this period. In the ossiferous beds of Sansan M. Lartet discovered the Dryopithecus, as well as Pithecus antiquus, but only in imperfect fragments. M. Albert Gaudry was more fortunate: in the Miocene rocks of Pikermi, in Greece, he discovered the entire skeleton of Mesopithecus, which we present here ([Fig. 166]), together with the same animal restored ([Fig. 167]). In its general organisation it resembles the dog-faced baboon or ape, a piece of information which has guided the artist in the restoration of the animal.
Fig. 167.—Mesopithecus restored. One-fifth natural size.
The seas of the Miocene period were inhabited by great numbers of beings altogether unknown in earlier formations; we may mention no less than ninety marine genera which appear here for the first time, and some of which have lived down to our epoch. Among these, the molluscous Gasteropods, such as Conus, Turbinella, Ranella, Murex ([Fig. 169]), and Dolium are the most abundant; with many Lamellibranchiata.
Fig. 168.—Cerithium plicatum.