Proconsul

Proconsul is an extinct genus of early primates that lived around 18 to 25 million years ago during the Miocene epoch in Africa. It is considered a crucial link in the evolutionary history between modern monkeys and apes, including humans. Proconsul had both ape-like and monkey-like characteristics, such as a flexible spine and limbs suitable for climbing, but it lacked the specialized features of true apes. Fossils of Proconsul have provided important insights into primate evolution, highlighting how early species adapted to their environments and how they may relate to the evolution of later primates, including humans.