Carpolestes simpsoni
Encyclopedia
Carpolestes simpsoni is an extinct species
of Plesiadapiformes
, which is one of the earliest primate
-like mammal
s appearing in the fossil record during the late Paleocene
. C. simpsoni had grasping digits but no forward-facing eyes.
Weighing about 100 grams, C. simpsoni appeared adapted for an arboreal habitat. One large, nail
-tipped toe opposed other toes, allowing a firm grip on branches. Like other species of Carpolestes
, the dental morphology of C. simpsoni is specially adapted to eating fruit, seeds, and invertebrates.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Plesiadapiformes
Plesiadapiformes
Plesiadapiformes is an extinct order of mammals. It is either closely related to the primates or a precursor to them. Many are too derived to be ancestral to primates, but the earliest Plesiadapiformes have teeth that are strongly indicative of a common ancestor...
, which is one of the earliest primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
-like mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s appearing in the fossil record during the late Paleocene
Paleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
. C. simpsoni had grasping digits but no forward-facing eyes.
Weighing about 100 grams, C. simpsoni appeared adapted for an arboreal habitat. One large, nail
Nail (anatomy)
A nail is a horn-like envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes in humans, most non-human primates, and a few other mammals. Nails are similar to claws, which are found on numerous other animals....
-tipped toe opposed other toes, allowing a firm grip on branches. Like other species of Carpolestes
Carpolestes
Carpolestes is a genus of extinct primate-like mammals from the late Paleocene of North America. It first existed around 58 million years ago. The three species of Carpolestes appear to form a lineage, with the earliest occurring species, C. dubius, ancestral to the type species, C. nigridens,...
, the dental morphology of C. simpsoni is specially adapted to eating fruit, seeds, and invertebrates.