US EditionTiny Teeth Found in Colorado Deepen the Debate over Primate Origins
Researchers used screen-washing to find tiny teeth of Purgatorius, the oldest archaic primate, extending its known range southward and highlighting sampling bias in fossil records.
- On March 3, the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology published findings reporting Purgatorius fossils from Corral Bluffs, Denver Basin, Colorado, marking the southernmost record of the earliest known archaic primate.
- Using intensive screen-washing, the team of students, volunteers, and interns isolated microscopic fossils through fine-mesh soaking, supported by a nearly $3 million NSF collaborative grant.
- After extensive processing, teams recovered three tooth specimens from over 8,000 pounds of sediment, with tooth dimensions ~2 by 2 millimeters showing a unique combination of features.
- The discovery helps fill a gap in understanding archaic primates' geography and evolution, with fossils supporting the north-to-south spread hypothesis soon after the end-Cretaceous extinction, Dr. Stephen Chester said.
- Researchers argue sampling bias partly explains prior absence, ankle bones attributed to Purgatorius show climbing features, and outside experts predict future intensive screen-washing efforts will find more specimens.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Daily Journal
Teeny tiny fossil reveals clues about evolution of primates
The "miniscule" new fossil was discovered 500 miles south in Colorado’s Denver Basin.
Science Daily
ecotopical.comTeeth smaller than a fingertip reveal the first primate ancestor
Tiny, tooth-sized fossils have just reshaped the story of our deepest ancestry. Paleontologists have discovered the southernmost remains ever found of Purgatorius—the earliest-known relative of all primates, including humans—in Colorado’s Denver Basin. Previously thought to be confined to Montana and parts of Canada, this shrew-sized, tree-dwelling mammal now appears to have spread southward soon after the asteroid impact that wiped out the dino…
Tiny Purgatorius fossils in Denver Basin hint at early primate spread southward
New minuscule fossils of Purgatorius, the earliest-known relative of all primates—including humans—have been unearthed in a more southern region of North America than ever before, and the breakthrough is providing paleontologists with fresh clues about evolution. The work appears in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Tiny Fossil Teeth in Colorado Expand the Range of the Earliest Known Primate
Learn how newly discovered Purgatorius fossils in Colorado’s Denver Basin are filling gaps in the Paleocene fossil record and clarifying early primate evolution after the dinosaur extinction.
Tiny fossil find uncovers new insights into the evolution of the earliest
In a groundbreaking paleontological discovery that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of primate evolution, scientists have unearthed fossils of Purgatorius, the earliest known relative of all primates, in a location farther south in North America than ever before recorded. This remarkable find, at the Corral Bluffs study area within Colorado’s Denver Basin, opens new […]
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