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The oldest known primate skeleton and early haplorhine evolution

Author

Listed:
  • Xijun Ni

    (Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origin, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 142 Xi Zhi Men Wai Street
    American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024, USA)

  • Daniel L. Gebo

    (Northern Illinois University)

  • Marian Dagosto

    (Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University)

  • Jin Meng

    (American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024, USA)

  • Paul Tafforeau

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility)

  • John J. Flynn

    (American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024, USA)

  • K. Christopher Beard

    (Section of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Avenue)

Abstract

Reconstructing the earliest phases of primate evolution has been impeded by gaps in the fossil record, so that disagreements persist regarding the palaeobiology and phylogenetic relationships of the earliest primates. Here we report the discovery of a nearly complete and partly articulated skeleton of a primitive haplorhine primate from the early Eocene of China, about 55 million years ago, the oldest fossil primate of this quality ever recovered. Coupled with detailed morphological examination using propagation phase contrast X-ray synchrotron microtomography, our phylogenetic analysis based on total available evidence indicates that this fossil is the most basal known member of the tarsiiform clade. In addition to providing further support for an early dichotomy between the strepsirrhine and haplorhine clades, this new primate further constrains the age of divergence between tarsiiforms and anthropoids. It also strengthens the hypothesis that the earliest primates were probably diurnal, arboreal and primarily insectivorous mammals the size of modern pygmy mouse lemurs.

Suggested Citation

  • Xijun Ni & Daniel L. Gebo & Marian Dagosto & Jin Meng & Paul Tafforeau & John J. Flynn & K. Christopher Beard, 2013. "The oldest known primate skeleton and early haplorhine evolution," Nature, Nature, vol. 498(7452), pages 60-64, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:498:y:2013:i:7452:d:10.1038_nature12200
    DOI: 10.1038/nature12200
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