Seven teeth of a monkey species 21 million years old found in Panama show the existence of this primate in North America before joining the continent, said Wednesday the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).
These teeth “are the first evidence of a monkey in the mainland of North America before the Isthmus of Panama to join South America ago 3.5 million years, “says STRI.
” it was believed that monkeys were restricted to South America “because before the rise of the Isthmus South America” was an island continent with no apparent connection with America, “he told AFP Aldo Rincon, a scientist at STRI.
according to the Institute, based in Panama, the fossils were found during the excavation of the works to expand the Panama Canal.
the new species of monkey was dubbed “Panamacebus transitus” in honor of Panama.
According to Jonathan Bloch, lead author of the study, before the monkey teeth were discovered, the oldest evidence the circulation of a mammal from South to North America was 8.5 to 9 million years ago, with the fossilized remains of giant sloths.
“we suggest that the Panamacebus was related to the capuchin monkey (also known as “capuchin monkeys”) and squirrel monkeys in the present are in Central America and South America, “said Bloch, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Museum of Natural History of Florida.
According Rincón the first animals arrived in Panama 21 million years ago, of which 99% are of US origin.
“These fossils monkeys (platirrinos) Channel, which prove is that for some reason, we do not have very clear, some monkeys arrived in Panama “although it is believed that there was a distance of 200 kilometers by sea to South America, said Rincon.
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