Archicebus

Archicebus
Temporal range: Early Eocene, 55.8–54.8 Ma
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Holotype
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Tarsiiformes
Family: †Archicebidae
Ni et al. 2013
Genus: †Archicebus
Ni et al. 2013
Species:
†A. achilles
Binomial name
†Archicebus achilles
Ni et al. 2013

Archicebus is a genus of fossil primates that lived in the early Eocene forests (~55.8–54.8 million years ago) of what is now Jingzhou in the Hubei Province in central China, discovered in 2003.[1][2] The only known species, A. achilles, was a small primate, estimated to weigh about 20–30 grams (0.7–1.1 oz), and is the only known member of the family Archicebidae. When discovered, it was the oldest fossil haplorhine primate skeleton found,[3][4] appearing to be most closely related to tarsiers and the fossil omomyids, although A. achilles is suggested to have been diurnal, whereas tarsiers are nocturnal. Resembling tarsiers and simians (monkeys and apes), it was a haplorhine primate, and it also may have resembled the last common ancestor of all haplorhines as well as the last common ancestor of all primates.[5] Its discovery further supports the hypothesis that primates originated in Asia, not in Africa.[6]

  1. ^ Ni et al. 2013, pp. 2 (sup).
  2. ^ Lei, Zhang; Fang, Qi (June 6, 2013). "I have scientists discovered the oldest fossil primate skeleton [Google translate]". Ifeng.com. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT-20130605 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TG-20130605 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNN-20130605 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference SCN-20130605 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).