Earliest Primate Described

Here's a bit of paleontological news. Researchers have just released news of a new, fossil primate: Darwinius masillae, discovered near Darmstadt, Germany. The fossil is both a new genus and new species, previously unknown to science. Click HERE to see the complete publication describing the new mammal.

Just in case you were wondering, the specimen is about 47 million years old and seems to be near the root of the line that eventually led to us: Homo sapiens. It is being labeled as a "missing link."

Here is what it looks like. Its actual size is about that of a small cat.