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“Missing Link” Fossil |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
It might be hard to believe, but from what scientific discoveries of bones and fossils have been able to teach us about the history of the Earth, we’ve learned that humans have not always roamed our planet! Even after dinosaurs went extinct, humans were most likely not around right away – like many other creatures, the modern human being evolved from other ancestors over the course of time!
Most scientists agree that human beings evolved from primates, which is the scientific group of animals that includes many kinds of monkeys and apes! But in spite of lots of good evidence for this theory, most people agree that it’s been missing a certain “link” to show exactly how this evolution might have happened!
Recently, some scientists are saying that they’ve found this missing link! The fossil being named as this possible missing link is believed to be 47 million years old and has been named “Ida,” although its scientific name is Darwinius masillae. (Try saying that five times fast!)
The scientists who have been studying Ida believe that she is a very early relative of the lemur, since the fossil has some really cool similarities to modern lemurs that have not been found before in other fossils. Among Ida’s important characteristics are opposable thumbs as well as back legs which help exhibit the evolution of primates from using all four legs to standing upright.
Of course, not all scientists agree that Ida is the true “missing link” that others believe she is. Because she is missing certain qualities (such as in her teeth and jaw), certain researchers are saying that she is still an interesting and important fossil but not exactly the “missing link” to bridge the gap between early primates and human beings.
But great-great-great-great grandma to lemurs or not, Ida is still a really neat fossil that scientists will be able to use to learn a lot! Unlike many fossils, Ida was almost completely intact when she was discovered, and even the stomach contents of her last meal had been partly preserved!