First described in 1872 by renowned French paleontologist Paul Gervais, Oreopithecus was more specialized for dining on leaves than was any other Old World fossil monkey or ape.

• 1872年，法国著名的古生物学家谢威（PaulGervais）向科学界报告了第一个沼猿化石。沼猿以树叶维生，旧世界其他的猴与猿没有一种像牠那麽依赖树叶。