News Paleontology

Two primate lineages crossed the Atlantic millions of years ago

New fossil discoveries suggest a second group crossed about 35 million to 32 million years ago

Ucayalipithecus primate teeth

Teeth of the newly discovered Ucayalipithecus primate in Peru resemble those of primates that lived in northern Africa as early as around 56 million years ago, scientists say.

E. Seiffert

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Four fossilized molar teeth excavated in Peru’s Amazon basin come from a now-extinct lineage of primates that rafted across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa and reached the inland site between around 35 million and 32 million years ago, researchers say.