Biology:Nosmips

From HandWiki
Short description: Extinct genus of primates

Nosmips
Temporal range: 38.0–33.9 Ma
Late Eocene[1]
Scientific classification edit
Missing taxonomy template (fix): Incertae sedis/Primates
Genus: Nosmips
Seiffert, 2010
Species:
N. aenigmaticus
Binomial name
Nosmips aenigmaticus
Seiffert, 2010[2]

Nosmips aenigmaticus is a rare fossil primate known only from 12 teeth. Most teeth were found at a site in the Fayum Depression about 40 miles (64 km) outside Cairo, Egypt.[3]

Nosmips aenigmaticus probably lived 37 million years ago in Africa and has not been successfully classified within any group of primates.[4] In particular, it is distinct from the three main branches of primate found in Africa at the time - anthropoids, adapiforms and lemuriforms. It is weakly associated with the Eosimiidae. Its premolars are specialised and the tooth enamel displays extensive signs of pitting, which would appear to be consistent with a diet of either seeds or fruits with hard pits.[5]

Name

Nosmips is an anagram of Simpson. The name was chosen to honour paleontologist and anagram enthusiast George Gaylord Simpson.

References

  1. "PBDB". https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=343225&is_real_user=1. 
  2. E. R. Seiffert, E. L. Simons, D. M. Boyer, J. M. G. Perry, T. M. Ryan and H. M. Sallam. 2010. A fossil primate of uncertain affinities from the earliest late Eocene of Egypt. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107(21):9712-9717
  3. Odd mosaic of dental features reveals undocumented primate
  4. Yahia, M. 2010. A new evolutionary mystery. Nature.
  5. Seiffert, Erik R.; Boyer, Doug M.; Fleagle, John G.; Gunnell, Gregg F.; Heesy, Christopher P.; Perry, Jonathan M. G.; Sallam, Hesham M. (2017-04-10). "New adapiform primate fossils from the late Eocene of Egypt". Historical Biology 30 (1–2): 204–226. doi:10.1080/08912963.2017.1306522. ISSN 0891-2963. https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/4834019. 

Wikidata ☰ Q7061831 entry