A new unearthed species of primate from Abocador de Can Mata in Catalonia, Spain mixed with great ape like and smaller bodied ape characteristics has just been included to the roots of the ape family tree.
Scientists believe that the Pliobates cataloniae, the newly found primate, came before the great apes and the smaller apes like the gibbons. The great apes being gorillas, chimps, orangutans and humans, Discovery reports.
The unearthed remains dated back to 11.6 million years and appeared to belong to an ape weighing about 11 pounds. Comparing it to gibbons, they seem to have some similarities.
This new genus is found to be much more closer to humans, says lead Science journal author David Alba.
Pliobates cataloniae, nicknamed as Laia (named after Eulalia, patron of Barcelona), shows a mix of features connected with multiple apes. Its brain-to-body mass ratio is more similar to a great ape but has primitive cusped teeth.
Scientists calculated that these new findings mean that the last common ancestor was not King-kong like.
Laia has a rotating wrist and an elbow that indicates the genus may have been an easy going bunch. Connecting more to gibbon characteristics, Laia may have been surviving mostly on fruits. What's interesting is the site Laia was found. Previous findings tracked our ancestors to have originated in Africa and moved out to parts of Europe and Asia. Brenda Benefit and Monte McCrossin, from the New Mexico State University, believes that Laia is evidence of small-bodied ape radiation in Europe. Laia may be the bridge between small-bodied African primates and today's modern gibbons.
Laia may be hope that will give clarity to human and ape evolution.
A host of other species have also been unearthed alongside Laia. About 80 mammalian species were found including several birds, reptiles and amphibians. The presence of big feline remains indicated a wet and warm climate forested environment.
