Altiatlasius
Sign in to saveAltiatlasius is an extinct genus of mammal, which may have been the oldest known primate, dating to the Late Paleocene (c.57 ma) from Morocco. The only species, Altiatlasius koulchii, was described in 1990.
Wikidata facts
Show 3 more facts
- taxon name
- Altiatlasius
- start time
- 57000000-0
- end time
- 57000000-0
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~3 min read
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Evolutionary history and taxonomy
- Notes
- References
- Literature cited
Altiatlasius is an extinct genus of mammal, which may have been the oldest known primate, dating to the Late Paleocene (c.57 ma) from Morocco. The only species, Altiatlasius koulchii, was described in 1990.
Its true taxonomic position remains controversial. It has also been suggested that it should be classified as a plesiadapiform (an extinct group of arboreal mammal thought to be ancestral to primates) or that it should be recognized as a euprimate, either as an omomyid (a branch of fossil primates thought to be closely related to tarsiers), an early tarsiiform, or the oldest stem simian (monkeys and apes).
Available in 9 languages
via Wikidata sitelinks · CC0