Reconstruction of a plesiadapiforme, genus Carpolestes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CarpolestesCL.png

ICP researchers publish this week in the ‘Journal of Human Evolution’ the discovery of fossil remains of plesiadapiforme that are unique in Spain. The study of these remains, which were found in the town of Ager and dating back more than 50 million years, can not solve the riddle of the affiliation of the plesiadapiformes.

Image of a plesiadapiforme molar found in the site Masia de l'Hereuet. Judit Marigó. ICP

Plesiadapiformes: are they or are they not primates?

Beyond the species to which these teeth belong to, the ICP researchers hope that the study of other remains will contribute to solving the puzzle on the phylogenetic affiliation of plesiadapiformes. This group has been considered either a sub-order of the primates, or a sub-order of Dermoptera, also known as flying lemurs.

In fact, recently the hypothesis of their relation to the order Dermoptera has been basically refuted by several studies showing that plesiadapiformes are closer to euprimates- or modern-looking primates -  than to any other euarconte. Euarcontes are a superodre of mammals, including primates, dermopters, scandents as well as plesiadapiformes -regardless of their phylogenetic affiliation.

Masia de l’Hereuet

The paleontological site Masia de l’Hereuet is located in the Valley of Ager, near the road that connects Agulló and Corçà (Catalonia). The area was initially studied by Crusafont and Rosell, during the 60's of last century. Since then, mammals, crocodiles and turtles remains have been recovered in Eocene sediments of the Ager Basin. Among mammals, perissodactyls, artiodactyls, rodents, marsupials and insectivores have been identified in the site Masia de l'Hereuet.