A new species of ancient primate has been discovered in what is now China, and it’s shaking up our understanding of primate evolution. The fossilized remains, belonging to an animal that lived roughly 55 million years ago, resemble those of a modern-day lemur. This new species has been named Archicebus achilles, and it is the oldest known primate with a well-preserved skeleton.

This incredible discovery is giving us a glimpse into the earliest stages of primate evolution; a time when a wide variety of species were emerging and beginning to diversify. The fossil remains of A. achilles show that it had some features in common with both primates and primitive mammals, indicating that it was likely an intermediate species between the two groups. This new species provides a unique insight into the evolutionary process that ultimately led to the emergence of modern primates.

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source: Phys.org