The Ramapithecus-Sivapithecus debate was a significant episode in paleoanthropology concerning the identification of early hominids. Ramapithecus, discovered in the Siwalik Hills of India and Pakistan in the 1930s, was initially considered a potential direct ancestor of humans based on fragmentary dental and jaw remains. Its parabolic dental arcade and thick molar enamel were interpreted as hominid-like traits, suggesting a divergence from the ape lineage around 14 million years ago.

However, subsequent discoveries of more complete fossils, particularly Sivapithecus (also from the Siwaliks), in the 1970s and 80s, led to a re-evaluation. Sivapithecus fossils, including facial structures, showed striking similarities to modern orangutans. Further analysis revealed that the 'hominid-like' features of Ramapithecus were also present in female Sivapithecus. Consequently, Ramapithecus was reclassified as a female Sivapithecus and removed from the direct human lineage, placing it firmly within the pongid (ape) family, specifically as an ancestor of orangutans. This debate highlighted the challenges of reconstructing evolutionary history from limited fossil evidence and the importance of more complete skeletal remains for accurate phylogenetic placement.