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Enki and Enlil would not be amused.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science...tor/index.html
(CNN) -- Scientists hailed Tuesday a 47-million-year-old fossil of an ancient "small cat"-sized primate as a possible common ancestor of monkeys, primates and humans.
Scientists say the fossil, dubbed "Ida," is a transitional species, living around the time the primate lineage split into two groups: A line that would eventually produce humans, primates and monkeys, and another that would give rise to lemurs and other primates.
The fossil was formally named Darwinius masillae, in honor of the anniversary of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday.
"This is the most complete primate fossil before human burial," said Dr. Jorn Hurum, of the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo, who led the study of the fossil, a young female primate.
"And it's not a few million years old; it's 47 million years old," Hurum said, speaking at a news conference at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
The fossil was discovered in 1983 in the Messel Pit, Germany, near Frankfurt, and had been until recently in private collections, according to an article published Tuesday in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, a publication of the Public Library of Science. Read the report from PLoS ONE
However, because it was split into two parts, its significance was not immediately recognized.
An international team of scientists, which Hurum led, conducted a detailed forensic analysis of the fossil for the past two years, the release said.
Hurum nicknamed the fossil Ida after his young daughter, he said.
The fossil's body is nearly complete; only part of one leg is missing, according to Hurum. In addition to the bones, the softer features are also preserved, as are the remnants of its last meal: fruits, seeds and leaves, which were found in Ida's gut, according to the scientists.
"It's such a beautiful specimen," Hurum said of Ida. He said the fossil is about 2 feet long, "like a small cat in size."
The fossil has both adult and baby teeth, indicating that it was weaned and about 9 months old when it died, the PLoS article said.
She would have eventually grown to the size of a lemur, the article said.
The young primate fossil does not have two crucial anatomical features found in lemurs: a grooming claw on the second digit of its foot and a fused row of teeth in the middle of its lower jaw, known as a toothcomb, the scientists said.
X-rays revealed a broken wrist, which the team of scientists believe may have contributed to Ida's death, according to a news release from the museum at Oslo.
Ida may have been overcome by carbon dioxide gas while drinking from the Messel lake, which was often covered by a low-lying blanket of the gas, the news release said. Hampered by the broken wrist, the young primate may have fallen into unconsciousness and may have slipped into the lake. The primate sunk to the bottom and was preserved for 47 million years, the news release said.
Enki and Enlil would not be amused.
Transitional fossil. Huh never thought those existed.
White man in the sky put it there to test your faith.
I'm not sure I read any hard evidence as to:
1) why it's 100% sure 47 million years old. Inaccurate carbon dating or circular logic using the geologic column is assumed. Upon further reading of the original PLoS journal entries, they categorize the forest where it was found is always Eocene, thus it is clearly inferred they used the geologic column (circular reasoning) to date this.
2) why this cannot be a specially adapted lemur-type animal considering they seem to imply its very similar to one (they refuse to compare it to any specifics of today's species that I can clearly perceive, instead pushing their personal agendas and only classifying it as "primate" due to only slight differences in bone structure
how come every fossil found is a transitional form, dear scientist? Because that's what your dogmatic scientific ideology calls for?
oh and, btw ...
take it with a grain of salt, I understand, but don't ignore the concept. "Human" primates would have overinhabited the earth a long, long time ago.
Last edited by z0sa; 05-20-2009 at 01:07 PM.
+/- this thread: 6 pages
The whole idea that we "evolved" from anything is stupid. It can never be proven until you go back in time and see it happen over what millions of years? lol
These people are the most stupid in the world. They can't believe in God but they can believe that through chance this happens precisely like this to create human beings?
So fossils aren't real? Species evolving has never happened? Are you serious?The whole idea that we "evolved" from anything is stupid. It can never be proven until you go back in time and see it happen over what millions of years? lol
These people are the most stupid in the world. They can't believe in God but they can believe that through chance this happens precisely like this to create human beings?
The fossil looks like a dinosaur and this thread is gonna suck ass.
Oh and how exactly have you proven the existence of a God? What physical tangible proof do you offer?The whole idea that we "evolved" from anything is stupid. It can never be proven until you go back in time and see it happen over what millions of years? lol
These people are the most stupid in the world. They can't believe in God but they can believe that through chance this happens precisely like this to create human beings?
I wasn't really in the mood but all of a sudden the thumpers start pounding their non-apelike chests and I'm ready.
yes and yes.
oThe whole idea that we "evolved" from anything is stupid. It can never be proven until you go back in time and see it happen over what millions of years? lol
These people are the most stupid in the world. They can't believe in God but they can believe that through chance this happens precisely like this to create human beings?
Meet the LIGER.
Sure it's man-made, and this one is sterile, but every now and then, a hybrid is fertile and breeds a new species.
Although hybrid speciation is still considered to be a minor addition to evolution, it is a nice example nonetheless
He scoffs at tangible evidence and cites something completely unproven. Why do so many of these people post at this site. Did Slomo install some kind of Jesus beacon
Thumper come back....tell us more about how dinosaurs aren't real.
it can't be real.......the earth is only 5000 yrs. old.
You jerks ran him.
let's see you pull a David on that cat, jesusians.
no we didn't. he was in over his head.
Way over.
Sig worthy.
It obviously being overhyped as the "missing link in evolution" is a stretch.
Badass to see something that old though.
hegamboa already disproved evolution by pointing to the scientific fallacies behind carbon dating. That skeleton is only 4000 years old, according to scientifically credentialed people like him.
I love the 'circular reasoning' argument coming from Bible apologists.I'm not sure I read any hard evidence as to:
1) why it's 100% sure 47 million years old. Inaccurate carbon dating or circular logic using the geologic column is assumed. Upon further reading of the original PLoS journal entries, they categorize the forest where it was found is always Eocene, thus it is clearly inferred they used the geologic column (circular reasoning) to date this.
2) why this cannot be a specially adapted lemur-type animal considering they seem to imply its very similar to one (they refuse to compare it to any specifics of today's species that I can clearly perceive, instead pushing their personal agendas and only classifying it as "primate" due to only slight differences in bone structure
how come every fossil found is a transitional form, dear scientist? Because that's what your dogmatic scientific ideology calls for?
oh and, btw ...
take it with a grain of salt, I understand, but don't ignore the concept. "Human" primates would have overinhabited the earth a long, long time ago.
I'd much rather have the 'circular reasoning' than "because the Bible said so" logic.
all cats come from a simpler cat ancestor according to evolutionary theory, right?
let's see you pull a David on that cat, jesusians.
the same occurs for popular religious accounts as well ...
Last edited by z0sa; 05-21-2009 at 01:13 PM.
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