Thaindian News

Washington DC, May 12 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Scientists say that a newly discovered primate that lived in Africa about 37 million years ago, is defying the norms of science and their classification techniques. Because it is challenging the scientific classifications of scientists and giving them sleepless nights, as it just doesn’t fit in the family tree. Paleontologists currently have 12 fossil teeth of the primate, and they say that is what is totally baffling them. They say the teeth don’t match up with the primate groups that existed around that time. The teeth were found in Egypt, and the new species is called Nosmips aenigmaticus.

Paleontologists usually identity a primate fossil by its teeth, because it is the only part that is most likely to be fossilized. The Nosmips’ teeth place it in Africa at the same time with other primates like adapiforms, which were present in Africa around that time. Currently, the Nosmips have become part of a group of rare fossils called Mystery Fossils. They are called so because researchers have not been able to see how the animal looked like due to the fact that they have only managed to obtain a part of the fossil.

Scientists say the specie lived alongside another specialized primate called Afradapis. Researchers say the Nosmips probably fed on fruits and insects more, because of the structure of their teeth.