Sivapithecus is widely recognized as an ancestral member of which ape lineage?Group of answer choicesgorillaorangutanchimpanzeegibbon

Sivapithecus is widely recognized as an ancestral member of the orangutan lineage. This extinct genus of primates lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 12 to 8 million years ago, and its fossils have been found primarily in the Indian subcontinent and parts of modern-day Turkey. The skeletal features of Sivapithecus, particularly its facial structure and dental morphology, suggest a closer relationship to modern orangutans than to other great apes like gorillas, chimpanzees, or gibbons. This connection provides important insights into the evolution of the Orangutans and highlights the diversity that once existed within the hominoid lineage during the Miocene. Its study helps paleontologists understand the adaptations and evolutionary pathways of great apes.