Fossils from Kenya solve an ancient monkey mystery: Discovery of 22-million-year-old teeth fills in

[Judi Lynn]

Fossils from Kenya solve an ancient monkey mystery: Discovery of 22-million-year-old teeth fills in a 6-million-year gap in our understanding of simian evolution

The teeth of the new fossil monkey were originally thought to be from a pig

It was only when scientists looked at other features they saw it was a monkey

The finding sheds light on how their diet may have changed over their evolution

Researchers hypothesised that the inclusion of leaves in the diet is what later drove monkey dental evolution

By VICTORIA BELL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 15:00 EDT, 11 March 2019 | UPDATED: 15:08 EDT, 11 March 2019

Professor Ellen Miller, of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, explained: 'These teeth are so primitive when we first showed them to other scientists, they told us, 'Oh no, that isn't a monkey. It's a pig.

'But because of other dental features, we are able to convince them that yes, it is in fact a monkey.'

The newly identified monkey's teeth are more primitive than geologically younger fossils.

This suggests it lived the 'good life', taking advantage of the vast variety of fruits, seeds and nuts growing in the rich forest.

More:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6796425/Fossils-Kenya-solve-ancient-monkey-mystery.html