Fossil remains of a 47-million-year-old animal,found years a
Fossil remains of a 47-million-year-old animal,found years ago in Germany,have been analyzed more thoroughly and determined to be an extremely early primate close to the emergence of the evolutionary branch leading to monkeys,apes and humans.Described as the “most complete fossil primate ever discovered,” the specimen is a juvenile female the size of a small monkey.Only the left lower limb is missing,and the preservation is so remarkable that impressions of fur and the soft body outline are still clear.The animal’s last meal,of fruit and leaves,remained in the stomach cavity.