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The evolutionary history that led to
Eocene-and-later primates of modern aspect (Euprimates) has been
uncertain. We describea skeleton of Paleocene plesiadapiform
Carpolestes simpsoni thatincludes most of the skull and
many postcranial bones. Phylogeneticanalyses indicate that
Carpolestidae are closely related to Euprimates.C. simpsoni
had long fingers and an opposable hallux with a nail.It lacked orbital
convergence and an ankle specialized for leaping.We infer that the
ancestor of Euprimates was primitively an arborealgrasper adapted for
terminal branch feeding rather than a specializedleaper or visually
directed predator.
Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, 1109 Geddes Road,
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
carpo{at}umich.edu
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