| Karanisia Fossil range: Late Middle Eocene | |
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| Scientific classification
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Lorisidae |
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Genus |
Karanisia |
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Karanisia is an extinct genus of lorisid primate and is represented by only one species, K. clarki.[1][2] It was described from isolated teeth and jaw fragments found in Late Middle Eocene (c. 40 million years ago) sediments of the Birket Qarun Formation in the Egyptian Faiyum.[3][4]
The specimens indicate the presence of a toothcomb, making it the earliest fossil primate to undisputably bear this trait, which is unique to Malagasy lemurs in extant primates. This fossil, along with recently discovered toothcomb-bearing Bugtilemur mathesoni (2001) of the Oligocene found in the Chitarwata Formation of Pakistan,[5] has added complications to the puzzle of lemur origins.[4]
References[]
- ^ "Karanisia". The Paleobiology Database. http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=90337. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
- ^ "Karanisia clarki". ZipCodeZoo.com. http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/K/Karanisia_clarki/. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
- ^ Seiffert, E. R.; Simons, E. L.; and Attia, Y. (2003). "Fossil evidence for an ancient divergence of lorises and galagos". Nature 422: 421-424.
- ^ a b Gould, Lisa and Sauther, Michelle L., ed (2006). Lemurs: Ecology and Adaptation (Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects) (1 ed.). Springer. p. 7-8. ISBN 038734585X.
- ^ "Bugtilemur mathesoni". The Paleobiology Database. http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=131786. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
