Scientists have unveiled a 47-million-year-old fossilised skeleton of a monkey hailed as the missing link in human evolution.
Scientists have unveiled a 47-million-year-old fossilised skeleton of a monkey hailed as the missing link in human evolution.
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Human connection: The 47 million-year-old fossilised remains of a creature were shown at a news conference at the American Museum of Natural History, yesterday in New York. Scientists say it may help illuminate the early evolution of monkeys, apes and humans. Pic/ap |
This 95%-complete 'lemur monkey' is described as the "eighth wonder of the world".
The search for a direct connection between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom has taken 200 years but it was presented to the world today at a special news conference in New York.
Lemur monkey
The discovery of the 95%-complete 'lemur monkey' dubbed Ida is described by experts as the "eighth wonder of the world"
They say its impact on the world of palaeontology will be "somewhat like an asteroid falling down to Earth".
Darwin's theory
Researchers say proof of this transitional species finally confirms Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and the then radical, outlandish ideas he came up with during his time aboard the Beagle.
Sir David Attenborough said Darwin "would have been thrilled" to have seen the fossil and says it tells us who we are and where we came from.
