This is Ida, a spectacularly preserved 47-million-year-old primate fossil from the Messel Pit in Germany. She is NOT the missing Link.
It is a transitional fossil, belonging to a new genus and species of primates: Darwinius masillae.
It has some features of the Strepsirrhini, popularly known as "wet nose" primates - the primate suborder that contains lemurs, but which does not belong to the human lineage.
However, the authors say that other features suggest it lies within the other primate group: the Haplorrhini, "dry nose primates", which contains tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans.
Showing posts with label Messel pit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Messel pit. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)