Fossils suggest Early Primates Lived in a Once-Swampy Arctic
New fossil evidence is suggesting that early primates may have once lived in the Arctic. A team of scientists from the UK and US have found the oldest evidence of primates in the region, which dates back 56 million years.
What does the evidence show?
The fossil evidence was found at a site in Ellesmere Island, located within the Canadian High Arctic. The researchers discovered four mammal teeth that belonged to a small primate known as Plesiadapis tricuspidalis. This species of primate was roughly the size of a squirrel, and was the first sedentary primate known to have lived in Eurasia and North America.
Arctic environment 56 million years ago
The findings suggest that 56 million years ago, the Arctic was much warmer than it is today. Furthermore, the scientists believe that the area would have been made up of subtropical swamps and woodland, which would provide the perfect habitat for primates.
What does this tell us?
The discovery of the fossil evidence suggests that primates have had a much longer evolutionary history in the Arctic than previously thought. Furthermore, it gives us insight into the types of environments that early primates may have lived in.
Implications
The findings could have implications for how primates are able to adjust to different climates and environments. If the Arctic was once home to primates, this suggests that they are more adaptable and resilient to environmental change than we previously thought.
In conclusion, the discovery of the fossil evidence suggests that early primates may have lived in a once-swampy Arctic, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of primates. The findings could have important implications for our understanding of how primates cope with environmental change. Fossils in Ellesmere Island in Canada have revealed compelling evidence that early primates once roamed the Arctic landscapes over 55 million years ago.
During the excavation of a fossil site in central Ellesmere Island, scientists discovered the remains of the newly-described primate Acrania Filguana. This species of primate is believed to be among the earliest of its kind, having lived during the Late Paleocene epoch.
The species has been identified by its jaws, molars and incisors, which are well preserved fossil remains that provide a rare glimpse into how primates lived during this time.
The evidence suggests Acrania Filguana lived in a swampy environment and spent much of its time in trees looking for food. The fossil remains suggest it may have been omnivorous, with a diet ranging from tree bark, fruits and leaves, to fish and small invertebrates.
What makes the discovery of Acrania Filguana particularly significant is that it supports the hypothesis that the evolution of primates occurred in multiple continents. This challenges the long-held belief that primates first appeared in the tropics before moving to other habitats.
The conditions of the Arctic at the time of Acrania Filguana is believed to have been much warmer than it is today, with temperatures averaging 11° Celsius in summer and between -6 and -2° Celsius in winter.
This discovery of Acrania Filguana, and confirmation that survivors of the primate family once lived in an Arctic swamp, is an important step in understanding how our distant ancestors evolved and interacted with their environment.