The smallest Primate in Asia

2000/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

A group of researchers from the University of Northern Illinois have studied the fossils of primates found in China in 1996 and have concluded that they are 45 million years old. The fossils found in China correspond to different species, one of them being the smallest primate ever found. Some of these small primates weighed little more than 10 g and were probably typical victims of predators similar to shepherds or mozolos. Remains of the primate called Eosimas have also been found in fossils.

Thanks to these traces, researchers have been able to confirm that Eosimas is a species of the primate group. This primate has the characteristics of the upper and lower primates. All these fossils can be human beings and ancient common ancestors of monkeys, which can help us fill the gaps in our evolution. The discovery of footprints in Asia is also a special interest for discovery, as it takes the centre of human origin away from Africa.