Fossils from Wyoming's Smiley Draw deepen understanding of early primate evolution
A new study from the University of Kansas complicates the picture of primates living in North America some 55 million years ago during the Eocene, a warm period that allowed mammals to diversify quickly.
A new study reveals fossils from Wyoming's Smiley Draw shed light on early primate evolution, challenging previous assumptions. The research, conducted by the University of Kansas, introduces a new species of ancient primate called Tetonius varleyorum, found in a location outside the well-researched Bighorn Basin. This discovery complicates the previously accepted linear evolutionary sequence of Tetonius, suggesting a more complex history.
The new findings indicate that Tetonius varleyorum interrupts the supposed anagenetic lineage from the Bighorn Basin, adding to the understanding of early primate biogeography and evolution.
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