Scientists Find Fossil of 'Mother of All Primates'

Scientists have discovered a 47 million-year-old primate fossil that they believe represents the common ancestor of all later monkeys, apes, and humans, reports the Wall Street Journal. The find supports a theory that humans' ancient ape-like ancestor was an adapid, which is also believed to be linked to lemurs. The skeleton, found in Germany, of the young female adapid will be unveiled at New York City's American Museum of Natural History next week.

"This discovery brings a forgotten group into focus as a possible ancestor of higher primates," said the lead researcher.
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